SSEN and RSPB to fund biodiversity at Oxfordshire reserve

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is partnering with the RSPB to fund biodiversity improvements at Otmoor Nature Reserve in Oxfordshire, as part of its ongoing substation works in the county.

Under its Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) obligations, SSEN has invested in credits to support environmental restoration and offset the ecological impact of its infrastructure upgrades.

Paul Goodchild, SSEN’s senior project manager for the Cowley project, said: “Our investment in Biodiversity Net Gain at Otmoor reflects our commitment to ensuring that essential infrastructure upgrades also contribute to positive, lasting benefits for local ecosystems.

“Working with the RSPB on such a significant reserve is a fantastic opportunity to support habitats that are vital for wildlife, while delivering the upgrades Oxfordshire needs for a low‑carbon future.”

The funding will go toward transforming three former arable fields at the Otmoor site.

Two of the fields will be converted into a wetland mosaic – a habitat known for its high species diversity and ecological value.

The third field will be seeded with native plants to create a transitional habitat, encouraging greater biodiversity across the reserve.

The RSPB hopes the wetland restoration will particularly benefit sensitive and declining bird species.

David Wilding, RSPB’s Otmoor reserve manager, said: “Otmoor is already one of central England’s most important wetland reserves, but projects like this remind us what can be achieved when we have mechanisms and policy in place that bring investment into nature.

“Transforming these fields into wetland mosaic is genuinely significant as this habitat type supports some of our most pressure-sensitive species, including Curlew, Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe, all of which have seen serious national declines.”

The work at Otmoor forms part of SSEN’s wider £200 million upgrade to Oxfordshire’s electricity network.

The upgrade aims to increase capacity and improve long-term resilience as the region transitions to a low-carbon future.

Since August 2025, SSEN has been installing new high-voltage underground cables along Grenoble Road as part of the project.

Work at Cowley substation, where state-of-the-art equipment is being installed, will continue into early 2027.

The project is being delivered in partnership with contractor OCU Group.

SSEN Distribution, part of FTSE-100 energy company SSE, serves four million customers across central southern England and the north of Scotland.

The company is focused on supporting the decarbonisation of the electricity system and connecting new low-carbon technologies to the grid.

At the same time, it aims to deliver environmental improvement alongside essential infrastructure projects.

Mr Goodchild said the Otmoor investment demonstrates how infrastructure development can be aligned with environmental stewardship.