💰 From £2.75 Million to £400,000 - The Value of Challenging Assumptions💰

One of the biggest opportunities in utility infrastructure often comes before a single shovel enters the ground.

Recently, we were appointed to support a residential development in Acle, Norfolk, where the proposed electrical connection strategy presented a significant challenge.

The client had already obtained a PoC offer and Simple Utilities were brought in to conduct a Utilities Assessment for the project. The original PoC required a connection back to the local primary substation approximately 5km away from the site, resulting in an estimated project cost of around £2.75 million once the required off-site excavation and works were included.

Rather than accepting the initial proposal, we undertook a detailed review of the project requirements and engaged directly with UK Power Networks to explore alternative options.

Following extensive discussions, we successfully secured a new PoC from the existing local 11kV network just 200 metres from the site entrance.

The result

✅ Massively reduced off-site installation requirements

✅ Simplified delivery strategy

✅ Reduced programme risk

✅ Improved project viability

💰 Estimated client saving: £2.35 million

This project demonstrates why utility infrastructure should never be treated as a box-ticking exercise. The first solution is not always the best solution, and investing time in understanding the project requirements can unlock substantial value for developers.

At Simple Utilities, our role is to challenge assumptions, identify opportunities and deliver practical solutions that reduce cost and risk.