Our Community-first approach
We have had strong support since announcing our investment in Somerset and value our partnership with residents and businesses in the area.
Developing a large-scale project of this nature does impact the community and we take our responsibility of being a good neighbour to the people of Somerset very seriously. Our priority is to maximise the local benefits from our investment, at the same time as minimising disturbance.
From our consultations, we know that traffic, noise and protecting the environment are important to people. Together, in collaboration with our delivery partner Sir Robert McAlpine, we have set out below an approach to managing traffic movements to and from the site, monitoring and managing noise, and protecting the environment during construction of our facility.
This information will be updated as work on site progresses.
Traffic management during development
Construction will follow a 24-hour weekday schedule, with overnight activities restricted to quieter or internal works to ensure residential amenity.
While we aim to keep the impact of vehicles travelling to and from our site as low as possible, we recognise that there will be a natural increase in local traffic volume. Site deliveries will be balanced throughout the day.
There is set to be an estimated average of 200 lorry movements per day associated with the construction of Building One, rising to around 400-450 during peak times. This will rise to just over 1000 movements per day in 2026, including deliveries and workforce.
We will work to ensure that vehicles will access the site via the new roundabout on Enterprise Way. Temporary signage along approach routes will ensure construction traffic is directed away from the local villages.
Sir Robert McAlpine is a CLOCS (Construction Logistics and Community Safety) Champion and encourages all its supply chain partners to adopt the CLOCS standard.
Noise management during development
As we progress with construction, there will be some noise generated. Construction noise limits are set at the British Standard for Noise and Vibration Control on Construction Sites.
Protecting the environment
We are committed to minimising impact on the local environment.
Agratas has developed a Demolition and Construction Environmental Management Plan, which includes measures to mitigate and manage any effect of the construction of our facility on the environment, such as:
- Tracking dust and carbon emissions generated during construction
- Carrying out extensive ecological surveys on site and protecting habitats wherever possible
- Ensuring an Ecological Clerk of Works is on site at all times
- Introducing measures such as wheel washing and damping to prevent the contamination of habitats
Getting in touch
If you would like to get in touch with our team you can email CommunityUK@Agratas.net
Frequently asked questions
Developing a large-scale project of this nature does impact the community and we take our responsibility of being a good neighbour to the people of Somerset very seriously. Our priority is to maximise the local benefits from our investment, at the same time as minimising disturbance.
About Agratas
What is Agratas?
Agratas is Tata Group’s global battery business. We will design, develop, and manufacture high-quality, high-performance, sustainable battery solutions for electric vehicles. We will also look to create batteries for other uses in the future, for example energy storage.
What is Agratas building in Somerset?
Agratas is building two brand-new battery manufacturing facilities – one in India and one in the UK. The facility at Bridgwater in Somerset will initially manufacture batteries for Agratas’ anchor customer, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
This project is set to be one of 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 automotive sector, supercharging Britain’s transition to electric mobility.
Where is the UK site?
Our battery manufacturing facility will be built on the Gravity Smart Campus in Somerset, near Bridgwater.
When does construction begin and end?
Piling for Building One is expected to complete during spring 2025.
Erection of the steel frame will begin during summer 2025 and production in Building One is scheduled to start in autumn 2027.
We will begin the construction of phase one of the Ring Road in autumn 2025, this will take approximately 2 years to build.
Phased construction will see additional buildings and further phases of the ring road developed subsequently, allowing Agratas to ramp-up manufacturing to full capacity by the end of the decade.
How can I apply for a construction job on site now?
Please contact our delivery partner Sir Robert McAlpine on: agratas.community@srm.com
Traffic
We have estimated the following for the construction of Building One:
- ● In 2025 we expect up to 200 movements per day, including site workers and deliveries
- ● In 2026 we expect just over 1000 movements per day, including site workers and deliveries
- ● This is based on 550 site workers on site in 2025 and just over 2000 site workers on site in 2026
We aim to keep the impact on local roads as low as is practically possible.
Where will the HGVs travel to and from during development, and will they avoid local roads?
Whilst we are still developing our supply chain and sourcing of materials, we will be instructing our staff and suppliers to access the site via the new roundabout on Enterprise Way, in order to avoid the use of the village roads as much as possible.
Temporary signage along approach routes will ensure construction traffic is directed away from local villages.
What hours of the day are HGVs allowed to travel to the Agratas site?
Scheduled deliveries to the site will be balanced throughout the day to reduce any peak hour impacts. A booking system will be in place so that the site team can manage deliveries.
What is being done to improve transport infrastructure?
We intend to deliver a package of transport measures to make it easier to get to the site by all means of travel, and to reduce the impact on the highway network. This includes:
- ● Access to the site via the new roundabout on Enterprise Way
- ● Segregated routes for pedestrians and cyclists
- ● Connection to Puriton-Woolavington pedestrian and cycle route
- ● Shuttle bus services based on shift and location needs
Noise
What are the site working hours?
Our site operating hours are:
- ● Monday to Friday: 07:00 – 18:00
- ● Saturday: 08:00 – 13:00
However, construction working hours have been extended for the steelwork for Building One only until December 2025 to help us keep moving at pace:
- ● Monday to Friday: 07:00 – 19:00
- ● Saturday: 07:00 – 18:00
- ● Sunday: 10:00 – 17:00
We know these extended hours may be noticeable, especially at weekends. To help reduce the impact:
- ● There will be no cutting or grinding on Sundays, which helps limit the highest noise activities on that day.
Our construction partner Sir Robert McAlpine have set up a helpline for the community, so if you have a question regarding the steelwork or extended operating hours, please contact them on 0333 566 1122 or email them at agratas.community@srm.com. For all other enquiries, please contact us at communityuk@agratas.com.
What limits are there on noise?
As we progress with construction, there will be some noise generated. Construction noise limits are set at the British Standard for Noise and Vibration Control on Construction Sites.
Monitoring will be undertaken by our delivery partner on site and we will work closely with Somerset Council to ensure construction stays within agreed parameters.
Environment
What is being done to protect the environment in that area?
We have engaged in extensive ecological surveys and work, enabling us to implement landscape and biodiversity proposals. This will meet the required regulations to protect the environment.
Monitoring of construction activity and potential environmental outputs – noise and dust – will also take place. We have plans to link this to the monitoring systems which are already being installed for the operational stage, to enable data collection and reporting through a digital dashboard.
How sustainable will your manufacturing operations be?
Agratas has an Environmental Social Governance Policy that is derived from the UN Sustainability Goals and the Clean & Inclusive Growth Strategy of the LDO. The starting point is to ensure the development is highly sustainable.
We will use the maximum amount of clean energy available to power our operations and being part of the Tata Group means we are committed to the Group’s sustainability strategy, Project Aalingana, including its overarching ambition to be net zero by 2045.