UK Power Networks has completed a £483,000 refurbishment of the Finsbury Market substation in central London, with two existing transformers overhauled as part of the work.
The compound sits near Liverpool Street, an area with heavy demand from businesses and residents. According to the network operator, the investment is intended to extend the working life of the equipment and strengthen power supplies in the district for years ahead.
The equipment upgrade and an exterior art project were carried out in tandem. The red-brick perimeter wall became the canvas for a new mural produced by Global Street Art, with street artist Nelio Riga painting the piece. Global Street Art describes itself as Europe's leading producer of hand-painted advertising and public art murals.
Chanelle Mistry, project manager at UK Power Networks, said the investment gives vital infrastructure a new lease of life. Refurbishing and maintaining the two transformers, she said, helps strengthen the local electricity network and improve reliability for the many businesses and residents who depend on it daily and into the future. She added that the company was pleased to see the outside of the site transformed by new artwork that will help brighten the local area while the equipment work took place behind the scenes.
Dr Lee Bofkin, co-founder of Global Street Art, said working with UK Power Networks and Broadgate Quarter on such a prominent site supported the organisation's stated mission to “live in painted cities”. He thanked the network operator and everyone else involved for their commitment to the project, noting that he and many others regularly walk past the walls.