Agratas, Tata Group’s global battery business, has announced the successful completion of the steel frame for its new facility in Bridgwater, Somerset, marking a key construction milestone and a significant step forward in the delivery of the project.
Construction work initially began on the multi-billion-pound project in 2024 and, once complete, it will be the biggest of its kind in the UK. It is set to play a crucial role in advancing clean technology and sustainable energy, producing battery cells for automotive and energy storage solutions.
The newly constructed giant steel frame spans 525 metres in length, 167 metres in width, and reaches 34 metres at its highest point, covering the entire footprint of Agratas’ ‘Building One’ – the landmark first phase of the project.
In total, 23,000 tonnes of steel were used to develop Building One’s frame and its key ancillary buildings – the same amount of steel used to build Wembley Stadium. A team of over 500 people contributed to the complex operation, with 100 per cent of the steel frame sourced from the UK.
Achievement of the major structural phase paves the way for the next stages of construction, which include external cladding, roofing installation, and internal fit-out.
Industry Minister Chris McDonald said: “This is another major milestone for a site that’s set to play a key role in our clean energy transition, delivering vital battery cells for EVs and renewable power – a central aim of our Modern Industrial Strategy.
“The use of 100% British-made steel in the construction of the factory’s frame demonstrates our steelmaking capability and competitiveness, and it's also the proper and responsible approach to steel sourcing by the developer. I look forward to seeing thousands of high-quality jobs created from this site in the years ahead.”
The large-scale steel operation has been delivered by Agratas’ construction delivery partner, Sir Robert McAlpine, in collaboration with steel contractor Severfield and the integrated design and engineering team at Stantec.
Paul McNerney, Chief Executive Officer, Severfield, said: “Completing the steel frame for Building One is a major milestone for us all. I would like to acknowledge the expertise and skill of our team workig on the project and thank them for their commitment. This project has seen us develop a relationship with a new organisation in Agratas, while continuing our long-standing collaboration with Sir Robert McAlpine.
“The scale and complexity of the project, delivered against a demanding programme, highlights the strength of Severfield’s engineering expertise, and the spirit of teamwork Sir Robert McAlpine and the wider client team have fostered across the project. We’re proud to be supporting the delivery of one of the UK’s most important new industrial facilities and renewed investment in UK manufacturing.”
Recruitment will continue over the course of the next year reaching a total of approximately 1,600 people – to support battery cell production at Agratas’ Somerset facility. The positions will span operations, maintenance, quality, technical, engineering, and logistics functions.
Once fully operational, the overall facility is set to create around 4,000 jobs and contribute over £700 million in annual economic value to the South West region.
