UK, 22 July 2024: Agratas today announces the phased appointment of Sir Robert McAlpine as the official delivery partner for Building One of its state-of-the-art battery cell manufacturing facility, near Bridgwater in Somerset.
Building One and ancillary development comprises 244,710 sqm GEA of built area, more than 35% larger than Wembley Stadium which covers approximately 180,000 sqm GEA.
Sir Robert McAlpine will now start preparations for the development, which is scheduled to be operational in 2026. Preparatory works have been underway at the site for several months already, with piling for Building One expected to commence in the coming weeks.
An extensive tender process saw Sir Robert McAlpine and competing firms assessed on the quality of their bids in relation to cost, capability, experience, sustainability and collaborative working. The successful partner performed well across the board to secure appointment on a distinct, stand-alone Pre-Construction Services Agreement.
Joe Hibbert, Vice President 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.”
Grant Findlay, Executive Managing Director for Buildings, Sir Robert McAlpine, added: “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.”
Once all phases of construction are complete, the facility is set to be the biggest 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.
The development of Building One will require approximately 2,100 construction roles at peak times, many across Tier 3 and 4 of the supply chain. Together, Agratas and Sir Robert McAlpine will deliver a Workforce Development Strategy to realise a local first approach, prioritising surrounding communities and fostering strong regional employment opportunities.
ENDS
About Agratas
Agratas is a global battery business within the Tata Group. We design, develop and manufacture high-quality, high-performance, sustainable battery solutions for multiple applications to match our customers’ requirements.
Derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Agra’, the world’s oldest language, our name stands for leadership and moving forward. Combined with ‘Gravitas’, it reflects our ambition to be purpose driven, pioneering power for future generations.
We have entered our industrialisation phase, building world-class battery facilities in India and the UK, and unlocking green growth opportunities for global customers in the mobility and energy sectors.
Our sustainability-first approach is accelerating the global transition to net zero. Our facilities are designed to be powered by clean sources of electricity, including purpose-built renewable energy plants, to support our goal of 100% clean power across all our operations. Using a circular design mindset, we adopt resource efficient processes, to reuse, recycle and recover materials back into production, delivering a sophisticated circular economy ecosystem. We are committed to developing the next generation of battery technologies.
Our R&D Innovation Hubs in India and the UK are empowered to accelerate technological breakthroughs across our entire value chain, working in partnership with leading universities and research institutions to deliver cleaner, greener, more sustainable batteries for our customers. Together, we will pioneer the innovative battery solutions of the future.
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