Bridgwater, Somerset (Commonwealth Union) _Sir Robert McAlpine, a UK-based contractor, has been awarded a contract by Tata Group’s battery firm Agratas to develop a multibillion-pound battery cell production plant in the UK.
Sir Robert McAlpine will construct Building One of the facility and accompanying buildings, totaling 244,710 square meters (GEA) near Bridgwater, Somerset. The contractor will now begin planning for the complex, which is slated to open in 2026.
Preparatory work has been ongoing at the site for some months and piling for Building One is set to begin in the coming weeks. Agratas stated that by the early 2030s, the expanded plant will account for over half of the expected battery production capacity required by the UK automotive sector. At peak periods, about 2,100 construction positions will be required for Building One, with many coming from Tier 3 and 4 of the supply chain.
Sir Robert McAlpine Limited is a family-owned building and civil engineering firm headquartered in Hemel Hempstead, England. It does engineering and construction in the infrastructure, historic, commercial, arena and stadium, healthcare, education and nuclear industries. “The start of this collaboration with Sir Robert McAlpine is another watershed event for our nationally significant project,” Joe Hibbert, vice president for capital projects at Agratas, said. “The team delivers an unrivaled dedication to technical excellence, client service, sustainability, and excellent project execution, but most importantly, they live and breathe our common purpose of putting the community at the center of everything we do.”
Grant Findlay, Executive Managing Director for Buildings at Sir Robert McAlpine, noted that throughout the firm’s 155-year history, it has always been “at the epicenter of industrial change in the UK”. “This is why we are happy to be Agratas’ chosen delivery partner,” he added.
Agratas, Tata Group’s worldwide battery company, plans to establish a gigafactory in the Gravity Smart Campus near Bridgwater, Somerset. Agratas has purchased a considerable land stake at Gravity, establishing itself as the site’s first and principal occupant. The 40 GWh battery facility is expected to supply about half of the UK automotive sector’s anticipated capacity by the early 2030s, making it the country’s largest.
Agratas CEO Tom Flack explained that their multi-billion-pound investment will bring cutting-edge technology to Somerset, accelerating Britain’s transition to electric transportation and generating thousands of employment.
Agratas will collaborate with local and regional partners, such as Somerset Council, Bridgwater and Taunton College, and the Gravity Smart Campus, to offer customized education and training programs in the region, resulting in local job opportunities.
Preliminary construction on the site is now underway, with piling to lay the factory’s foundations scheduled to begin in the spring. Construction will be completed in stages, with battery manufacturing beginning in 2026. JLR and Tata Motors will be Agratas’ initial clients.
Agratas also intends to develop batteries for other uses, such as two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, as well as commercial energy storage systems. The facility will produce up to 4,000 high-skilled green tech jobs in the area, and thousands more in the UK supply chain.
Agratas aims to conduct an introduction event in the coming weeks for local residents to hear about their intentions and meet the team, as part of their community-first strategy. According to Flack, the company is firmly committed to the communities in which it operates, which is why it is critical for them to collaborate with and listen to its new neighbours as they establish the new plant in Somerset. Accordingly, the event for the local residents is expected to give additional information about the company’s goals and introduce its staff to the neighborhood.
The development follows Tata Group’s statement last year that it will form Agratas, a new subsidiary, and that the UK would host the company’s first gigafactory outside of India. This significant investment not only promises to create over 4,000 direct employment in the region, but it also provides a unique chance to upskill the current workforce, promote innovation, and position the UK as an international center of excellence in sustainable battery technology.
The Somerset gigafactory will first provide batteries to Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors. However, its influence will go well beyond the automobile industry. Educational institutions across the UK, ranging from modest colleges to major universities, are prepared to play an important role in delivering the training and education required to enable this shift.
