UK Power Networks has refurbished the Finsbury Market substation in central London, investing £483,000 in the site near Liverpool Street. The work improved two existing transformers and included repainting, giving the equipment a new lease of life.
The upgrade took place alongside a street-art project on the perimeter of the compound. The red-brick wall became a canvas for Global Street Art, a producer of hand-painted advertising and public art murals, and street artist Nelio Riga used the wall as the backdrop for a new work.
Chanelle Mistry, UK Power Networks project manager, said the investment was giving vital infrastructure a new lease of life. She said refurbishing and maintaining the two transformers was helping to strengthen the local electricity network and improve reliability for the businesses and residents that depend on it. Mistry added that while equipment was being upgraded behind the scenes, the company was pleased to see the outside of the site transformed by artwork that would help brighten the local area.
Dr Lee Bofkin, co-founder of Global Street Art, said working with UK Power Networks and Broadgate Quarter on an important and prominent site supported the organisation’s mission to “live in painted cities”. He thanked those involved for their dedication to the ambitious project and said he frequently walked past the walls himself, adding that it was good to see the project so well received.
The upgrade is intended to improve reliability and strengthen power supplies for the busy area for years to come, combining essential electrical maintenance with a visible change to the street frontage.