Eversheds Sutherland advises National Grid on formation of its Great Grid Partnership

Eversheds Sutherland has advised National Grid on the creation of its Great Grid Partnership involving a pioneering enterprise delivery model to support the construction of an initial nine Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) projects across England and Wales vital to achieving the UK’s net zero goals.

The Partnership includes seven partners and will be integral to delivering the initial ASTI projects as part of the Great Grid Upgrade, an asset creation programme to build the significant new electricity network infrastructure required to reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels by connecting 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.

Two design and consenting service partners (AECOM Arup (JV); WSP), and five construction partners (Laing O’Rourke; Morgan Sindall Infrastructure; Morrison Energy Services; Murphy; Omexom / Taylor Woodrow (OTW JV)) are joining National Grid as part of the newly formed Great Grid Partnership.

The Partnership will enable each supplier and National Grid to pool resources, skills, insights and experience to deliver projects faster and more economically. This will bolster supply chain capacity and drive value for money and benefits for both consumers, local communities and the wider UK economy.

A new ‘enterprise model’ was created for the Great Grid Partnership to bring together National Grid and its supply chain partners in a long-term collaborative relationship forming part of a £9 billion supply chain framework. Eversheds Sutherland advised on the construction, employment, health and safety and intellectual property aspects of the enterprise agreement for the Great Grid Partnership.

Eversheds Sutherland’s team was led by Construction Partner David Jones, who was supported by a core team comprising: Partners Jo Hatton-Jones (construction), Tom Douglas (construction), Mark Hammerton (employment), Tim Hill (health and safety) and Principal Associates Ray Hetherington (construction) and Alison Mallard (construction).

David Jones, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said:

“It has been fantastic to support National Grid on this landmark infrastructure partnership which will have such a significant impact on the lives of individuals and businesses across the UK. The formation of this partnership demonstrates the determination of every party involved to create a new, efficient and innovative way to deliver the biggest electricity infrastructure upgrade in a generation - The Great Grid Upgrade – in time to meet the 2030 deadline and help the UK deliver its energy transition.”