Agratas, the global battery division of Tata Group, has announced revised plans for what will become the United Kingdom’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility. The updated blueprint for the gigafactory, situated on the former Royal Ordnance Factory site near junction 23 of the M5 in Somerset, includes a reduction in the main building’s height by 84 meters (279 feet) and postpones the opening of the first factory building to 2027, a one-year delay from the initial schedule.
The project represents a significant investment of £4 billion and is projected to create approximately 4,000 jobs. Once operational, the facility aims to produce enough battery cells annually to supply around 500,000 vehicles, supporting brands such as Range Rover, the Defender, and Jaguar. Additionally, the plant is expected to provide batteries to other automotive manufacturers and contribute to the production of commercial energy storage solutions.
Jefferson Weber, Agratas head of construction, said: “Despite a level of uncertainty in the market, we’re here making a big strategic bet in Somerset. We really believe in this market, we’re bullish about it and we think it’s the future of vehicle manufacturing.”
Agratas is conducting a series of community consultation events to inform local residents about the changes, including modifications to the main building, the development of an internal ring-road, and National Grid’s plans for an electricity substation to support the site. The construction phase is expected to span two years, with the workforce growing from 500 individuals on site by the end of 2025 to 2,000 by 2026. Upon full expansion, the plant will employ up to 4,000 people.
Spanning 616 acres, the site is poised to become one of Europe’s largest gigafactories, with the capability to produce 40 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery cells annually. By the early 2030s, Agratas projects that the facility could supply up to 40% of all EV batteries for the UK market. The company anticipates that the project will inject “hundreds of millions” into the local economy.
The UK Department for Transport has acknowledged the challenges faced by car manufacturers globally and is supporting the initiative by reinstating the 2030 phase-out date for new petrol and diesel car sales. The department is investing over £2.3 billion to aid the industry and consumers in transitioning to electric vehicles, aiming to position the UK as a leader in clean energy and secure high-paying jobs for the future.
In 2023, the previous government confirmed that Tata received substantial incentives to establish the plant in the UK, including subsidies in the form of cash grants, energy cost discounts, and funding for training and research.
Source: BBC News
