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Electricity North West is entering the final stages of its £7m scheme to create new capacity on the network close to Manchester Airport.

The project includes installing a new 33,000-volt substation and laying 30km of new underground electricity cables that will almost double the network capacity and power the areas surrounding Airport City and Wythenshawe.

The South Manchester Enterprise Zone scheme is set to complete next month with the team now working on the final steps, which includes connecting the new cables to the network.

Neil McClymont, who oversees Electricity North West’s strategic projects, said: "Through economic growth and the adoption of low-carbon technologies, the demand for electricity is expected to gather pace rapidly in the years to come.

"Schemes like this one in Manchester ensure the network has enough capacity for the first steps of that transformation, while also remaining one of the most reliable networks in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ."

Kevin Fullerton, Electricity North West’s project manager for the South Manchester Enterprise Zone project, added: "This project is one of many that supports Greater Manchester’s aims to meet a net-zero commitment by 2038.

"By guaranteeing that the major new facilities already being built in Airport City have all the power they need, we can support economic growth at the same time as meeting the region’s increased demand for electricity as we all move away from fossil fuels and become a cleaner, greener place to live."

The scheme at Airport City is one of eight key projects that Electricity North West is embarking on as part of a £25m investment in creating new capacity across the region.