A major construction milestone has been reached at the £4 billion Agratas gigafactory in Bridgwater, Somerset, with the completion of the primary steel frame for the landmark facility.
Agratas, the global battery business of Tata Group, began construction on the multi-billion-pound development in 2024. Once operational, it will be the largest battery manufacturing facility of its kind in the UK, producing battery cells for automotive applications and energy storage systems, and playing a central role in advancing clean technology.
The vast steel structure for Building One, the first phase of the project, spans 525 metres in length, 167 metres in width and rises to 34 metres at its highest point. In total, 23,000 tonnes of steel have been used across the main building and associated ancillary structures — a volume comparable to that used in the construction of Wembley Stadium. More than 500 people were involved in delivering the complex steel operation, with all structural steel sourced from within the UK.
Completion of the frame enables the project team to move into the next stages of development, including external cladding, roofing works and internal fit-out.
The steel package has been delivered by construction partner Sir Robert McAlpine, working alongside steel specialist Severfield and the integrated design and engineering team at Stantec. The collaboration marks a significant step forward in creating large-scale battery manufacturing capacity in Britain.
Recruitment for the site is continuing, with around 1,600 roles to be filled over the coming year across operations, maintenance, engineering, logistics and quality functions. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to support around 4,000 jobs and generate more than £700 million in annual economic value for the South West.
In parallel, Costain has been appointed to design and construct a new junction on the M5 motorway, providing critical infrastructure access to the expanding Agratas site.
Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
