Social value case study: Coquet Valley – delivering social value through rural electrification and connectivity
Updated 17 December 2025
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December 2025
1. Background
The Coquet Valley, located within Northumberland National Park, is home to a remote community. For decades, residents and tenanted properties relied on generators for electricity, facing high costs, maintenance challenges, and environmental impacts.
2. The challenge
Three Emergency Services Network (ESN) sites were originally powered by permanent generators due to the high cost and visual impact of extending mains power. The lack of reliable electricity and mobile coverage posed significant risks to both the military and local community, especially during winter.
3. Collaborative approach
In March 2020, initial discussions took place between the Home Office, MOD, and Northern Powergrid to develop a joint scheme to bring mains power to the three ESN sites and a number of tenanted properties. The project involved close collaboration with the Northumberland National Park Authority (NNPA) and a rigorous design and consultation process to ensure all requirements were met. The scheme included 12km of overhead and 5km of underground power lines.
Funding for the project was secured from the Home Office, Building Digital UK (BDUK), and the MOD. The planning application was submitted in May 2023, and final approval was granted in August 2023
4. Delivery and supplier involvement
- Initial construction works began in August 2024 through the Home Office’s Acquisition, Design and Build contract.
- Mains power was ordered through the Home Office’s Acquisition, Design and Build contract, which was also responsible for completing the Shared Rural Network (SRN) upgrade on one of the three sites.
- The first mast site and properties were connected in August 2025, with the remaining sites planned for connection by the end of 2025.
- The three ESN sites were activated on temporary generators, providing mobile phone coverage throughout the valley for the first time.
5. Social value delivered
5.1 Community benefits
- A number of off-grid tenanted properties now have access to mains electricity, ending reliance on costly and polluting generators.
- Improved safety and wellbeing for residents, with enhanced 4G mobile signal coverage and reliable power giving the community greater coverage for 999 calls supporting emergency services communication and response, especially in adverse weather.
5.2 Environmental impact
- Significant reduction in carbon emissions due to the removal of diesel-powered generators from three ESN sites and tenanted properties.
- The project’s design minimised visual impact and environmental disruption, aligning with National Park conservation goals.
5.3 Operational resilience
- Connecting the ESN sites to mains power provides a higher degree of resilience for the Emergency Services Network, especially as the valley is often cut off in winter.
- Provision of mains power makes the three ESN sites compatible for upgrading in support of the BDUK Shared Rural Network programme, expanding commercial mobile coverage into rural communities.
5.4 Economic value
- Transitioning from generators to mains power lowers operational expenditure for both the Home Office and residents.
6. Recognition
The project has attracted significant media attention as a national good news story, with coverage from BBC News and other outlets highlighting the transformative impact on the local community after fifty years of campaigning for mains electricity - Northumberland farms finally get electricity after 50 years - BBC News
7. Conclusion
Bringing power to the Coquet Valley was driven by the requirement to connect the three ESN sites to the power grid. This would not have happened without collaboration between the Home Office, BDUK, MOD, Northumberland National Park Authority, and Northern Powergrid. The project is a strong example of collaborative working across government departments, delivering significant benefits to both the programme and the local community.