Delivered to South West England
Cable sand delivered across the South West
Bristol, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. National Grid Electricity Distribution, formerly Western Power Distribution, runs the network here, and its standard asks for crushed stone dust to bed and blind its own cables. We supply the stone dust as well as cable sand.
Operator rules last checked 2 October 2026.
Towns we deliver to in the South West
And everywhere in between. Distances are from our yard in Salford, as the crow flies; the road distance is longer. Haulage is most of the price, so it helps to know.
| Town or city | Miles from Salford |
|---|---|
| Bristol | about 141 |
| Bath | about 145 |
| Taunton | about 174 |
| Barnstaple | about 182 |
| Exeter | about 198 |
| Torquay | about 215 |
| Plymouth | about 229 |
| Truro | about 251 |
Near the edge of the area? Network boundaries do not follow county lines, so check which operator covers your site with theEnergy Networks Association’s postcode lookup.
National Grid Electricity Distribution’s rules for the sand
Formerly Western Power Distribution.
- Bedding: crushed limestone dust or crushed granite dust, 3 mm to dust, imported and laid as a bed for the cable or duct.
- Blinding: a further 75 mm of the same over the cable or duct before the warning tape.
- Ducts: bedded and blinded by 75 mm of the same across the full trench width.
National Grid’s standard technique asks for crushed stone dust rather than sand for bedding and blinding. We supply both: crushed limestone or granite dust, 3 mm to dust, and cable sand. Check your drawings and pick the one your job asks for on the form.
Source: National Grid Electricity Distribution, ST: CA6A/7, June 2021. Always work to your own drawings and spec.
Delivery to the South West
How quickly
Usually next day to most of the region. Cornwall is the furthest point, so artic loads give the best price per tonne on bigger jobs.
What we supply
Cable sand, sand for cement-bound sand or CBS pre-mixed dry, gravel and sand mix, and crushed limestone or granite dust (3 mm to dust). Tested sand where your spec asks for it, standard sand where it does not.
How it comes
Tipper loads of about 20 tonnes, artic loads of about 28 to 30 tonnes, or 850 kg bulk bags lifted off by crane. Bulk bags from one bag; loose tipper loads from 10 tonnes.
Work out how much you need with the calculator. Bedding and blinding step by step in the trench guide.
Questions
Who runs the electricity network in South West England?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (formerly Western Power Distribution). Its rules set what goes around cables that will join its network, so check them, or your drawings, before you order.
Do you deliver cable sand to Bristol and Truro?
Yes. We deliver anywhere in South West England, from Bristol to Truro, about 251 miles from our Salford yard as the crow flies. Usually next day to most of the region. Cornwall is the furthest point, so artic loads give the best price per tonne on bigger jobs.
What does National Grid Electricity Distribution ask for around its cables?
Bedding: crushed limestone dust or crushed granite dust, 3 mm to dust, imported and laid as a bed for the cable or duct. Its rules cover more than that, so see the full list on this page. National Grid’s standard technique asks for crushed stone dust rather than sand for bedding and blinding. We supply both: crushed limestone or granite dust, 3 mm to dust, and cable sand. Check your drawings and pick the one your job asks for on the form.
Get a price
Cable sand for your site in the South West
Send the site postcode and how much you need, and we price the sand and the haulage from Salford to your site.