First phase for Somerset battery factory gets green light

Main contactor Sir Robert McAlpine has signed a preconstruction services agreement for the initial phase of the Agratas battery factory in Somerset.

Agratas, Tata Group’s global battery business, is set to build a £4bn battery cell manufacturing facility across 300 acres of the Gravity Smart Campus in Puriton, near Bridgwater.

Building One of the development comprises 244,710m² sqm of floorspace, which is said to be more than 35% larger than Wembley Stadium.

Sir Robert McAlpine will now start preparations for the development, which is scheduled to be operational in 2026. Preparatory works have been underway at the site for several months already, with piling for Building One expected to commence in the coming weeks.

Joe Hibbert, Vice President for Capital Projects at Agratas commented: “The beginning of this partnership with Sir Robert McAlpine is another pivotal moment for our nationally significant project.

“The team brings an unrivalled commitment to technical excellence, client service, sustainability and exemplary project delivery, and most importantly, they live and breathe our shared vision of placing community at the heart of everything we do.”

Grant Findlay, Executive Managing Director for Buildings, Sir Robert McAlpine, added: “Across our 155-year history, we have always been at the forefront of industrial change in the UK. This is why we are proud to be working with Agratas as its preferred delivery partner.”

“We are aligned in our ambitions for making a long lasting, positive impact on local communities, guided by our vision to construct a better world for future generations.”

Once all phases of construction are complete, the facility is set to be the biggest of its kind in the UK and by the early 2030s will contribute almost half of the projected battery manufacturing capacity required for the UK automotive sector.