Agratas, Tata’s gigafactory company, has appointed Sir Robert McAlpine to develop the new facility near Bridgwater in Somerset.

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

Joe Hibbert, VP 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.”

Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover will be the main UK customer, but the batteries will likely also be used by other automotive companies and in energy storage solutions.

Once all phases of construction are complete, the 40GWh facility is set to be the largest 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.

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