Sir Robert McAlpine has been appointed to construct Building One, Agratas’ planned gigafactory, in Bridgewater, Somerset
Agratas is planning to construct Building One, set to be the UK’s largest battery-cell manufacturing facility, known as a gigafactory, and has appointed Sir Robert McAlpine as the official delivery partner.
The building will be constructed on the brownfield site of an old Royal Ordnance factory, and is set to cover 244,710m2, over 35% larger than Wembley Stadium. It is scheduled to begin operations in 2026.
The gigafactory will need a huge workforce
The construction process will require 2,100 construction roles at peak times, meaning Agratas and Sir Robert McAlpine will work on implementing a workforce development strategy to accommodate these needs.
Agratas says that, by 2030, Building One will contribute nearly half of the the car batteries the UK needs in its vehicle industry. The development, including two ancillary buildings, will cost around £4bn.
Preparation for the development will commence soon, with piling for the construction due to commence in the coming weeks, fulfilled by Kelston Sparks.
Agratas and Robert McAlpine comment on the planned gigafactory
Joe Hibbert, vice president for capital projects at Agratas, said: “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 at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “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.”
