Tata Group’s battery business Agratas has appointed Sir Robert McAlpine for the pre-construction phase of a state-of-the-art battery cell manufacturing facility near Bridgwater in Somerset.
Named Building One, the facility and ancillary development will comprise 244,710 sq m gross external area. That’s more than 35% larger than Wembley Stadium, which covers approximately 180,000 sq m GEA.
Once complete, the development is set to be the biggest of its kind in the UK and by the early 2030s is expected to contribute almost half of the projected battery manufacturing capacity required for the country’s automotive sector.
Local-first approach to employment
The project will require approximately 2,100 construction roles at peak times, many across tier 3 and 4 of the supply chain. Agratas and McAlpine said they will adopt a local-first approach to prioritise employment in local communities.
Agratas and McAlpine said preparatory works have been underway at the site for several months already, with piling for Building One expected to start in the coming weeks.
McAlpine will now start preparations for the development, which is scheduled to be operational in 2026.
