McFadden Utilities is a NERS-accredited Independent Connection Provider based in Hertfordshire, delivering the civils scope of new electricity connections across London and the South East.
An Independent Connection Provider (ICP) is an accredited contractor authorised to design, install, or build parts of a new electricity network, as an alternative to the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO). ICP work splits into two broad scopes: civils (trenching, ducting, chambers, joint bays, substation bases, backfill, reinstatement) and electrical (cable pulling, jointing, termination, live connection). McFadden specialises in the civils scope. The electrical scope gets delivered by a cable-pulling ICP or the DNO.
Typical clients include main contractors, full-package ICPs who need an accredited civils subcontractor, DNOs commissioning civils work directly, and property developers on new-build schemes where a separate civils contractor has been specified.
We do the underground work to the standard the cable-pulling team need. Trenches in the right place, ducts to the right spec, chambers where they need to be. When the cables come, it just works.
Paul McFadden, Director
The civils scope covers excavation and trenching to DNO specification, multi-way ducting installation with draw cords, jointing chambers and joint bay construction, substation base and kiosk foundations, earthing and bonding infrastructure, backfill to spec, and full NRSWA reinstatement. All work is delivered to the NERS-accredited standard and handed over ready for the cable-pulling phase.
Multi-utility schemes are a natural fit. McFadden holds both NERS (electric) and WIRS (water) accreditations, which is unusual in the market. The same site team can deliver electric and water civils in coordinated phases, reducing site disruption and keeping a single point of contact across both utilities.
Work runs from the Hertfordshire depot and covers London and the wider South East as standard, with larger schemes taking us further afield.
The civils scope on a new electricity connection runs in four phases. Each phase hands cleanly to the next so the cable-pulling team arrive to a site that's ready for them.
Coordination with the lead ICP or DNO on the civils design, duct routing, chamber positions, and substation placement. DNO permits and traffic management handled on the client's behalf.
Trenching to specification, multi-way ducting installed with draw cords, chambers and joint bays built in the right positions. All work to NERS-accredited standard.
Concrete bases for substations and switchgear kiosks, earthing and bonding infrastructure, all built to DNO adoption standard.
Backfill to specification, full NRSWA reinstatement above ground, site handover with duct routes proved and drawings updated. Ready for the cable-pulling phase.
Recent civils work delivered as a subcontract to an independent connection provider. Ducting, chambers, and reinstatement for a new substation connection. Get in touch to discuss ICP civils scope.
View all projects →The ICP civils teams work from the Hertfordshire depot, covering London and the wider South East as standard. Six counties form the core service area, with larger schemes taking teams further afield.
The questions we hear most about civils ICP work.
An Independent Connection Provider (ICP) is a contractor accredited to design, install, or build parts of a new electricity network, as an alternative to the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO). ICPs are accredited under the National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS), run by Lloyd’s Register. The scope an individual ICP can cover varies: some deliver the full package from design through to live connection, others specialise in one part of the work. McFadden specialises in the civils scope.
Civils scope covers everything underground up to the point where the cables go in. That’s trenching, multi-way ducting with draw cords, jointing chambers, joint bays, substation bases, earthing and bonding, backfill, and full NRSWA reinstatement above ground. Once the civils are complete, the site is ready for a cable-pulling ICP or the DNO to install and connect the cables.
No. The civils scope is where McFadden works. For cable pulling, jointing, and live connection, a cable-pulling ICP or the DNO handles that phase. Schemes often run with two ICPs on site: a civils specialist (McFadden) and a cable-pulling specialist, coordinated by the lead contractor or developer. Paul is looking at bringing cable pulling in-house in future, but the civils scope is the current offer.
Yes, and this is a meaningful differentiator. McFadden holds both NERS (electric) and WIRS (water) accreditations, which is unusual in the market. On a multi-utility scheme, the same site team can deliver both water and electric civils in coordinated phases. Fewer contractors on site, one point of contact for both utilities, fewer handover gaps.
NERS is the National Electricity Registration Scheme, run by Lloyd’s Register (LRQA). An ICP must be NERS-accredited to carry out contestable works that will be adopted into the national electricity network. The accreditation covers design, construction, inspection, and commissioning against published DNO standards. Without it, work on the network can’t be adopted.
McFadden delivers ICP civils across Hertfordshire, London, Surrey, Essex, Cambridgeshire, and Berkshire as standard, working from the Hertfordshire depot. Larger schemes take teams further afield. Get in touch for projects outside this area.
The civils phase depends on the scheme size and whether it’s a single substation feed or a multi-plot estate rollout. A straightforward single-substation civils scope can run in days. A phased housing estate rollout with multiple feeds and chambers runs in weeks to months, programmed around the build. Each job gets a programme and a price after a site visit.
Yes. A significant portion of McFadden’s ICP work comes through lead ICPs and main contractors who need an accredited civils team on a scheme they’re delivering end-to-end. The same NERS standard applies to the civils phase regardless of who holds the lead contract. Get in touch for subcontract civils enquiries.
McFadden’s civils teams work to the published standards of all major DNOs operating across the six-county service area. That includes UK Power Networks (covering London, the South East, and the East of England). Work is delivered to the relevant DNO’s standards and handed over for adoption through the lead ICP.
Whether it's a single substation feed, a multi-plot housing estate, or a multi-utility scheme with both water and electric civils, the team are happy to talk through the scope and get a quote over. Subcontract enquiries from lead ICPs and main contractors welcome.
Phone: 01707 648 420
Email: info@tonymcfadden.co.uk
