UK's Largest EV Battery Plant Completes £4bn Steel Frame

A towering 525-metre steel frame now stands in Somerset, marking a breakthrough moment for Britain's electric vehicle revolution.

Agratas, backed by the Tata Group, just completed the massive steel skeleton for what will become the UK's largest battery manufacturing facility in Bridgwater. The structure stretches longer than five football fields and rises 11 stories high, built entirely with 23,000 tonnes of British-made steel.

More than 500 workers assembled the giant frame over recent months, reaching a milestone that transforms the £4 billion project from blueprint to reality. Building One, as this first phase is called, will soon receive its outer walls, roofing, and interior equipment.

The timing couldn't be better for Britain's automotive industry. This facility will produce battery cells for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, positioning the UK as a serious player in clean technology manufacturing.

The Ripple Effect

The economic impact reaches far beyond the construction site. Once fully operational, the gigafactory will employ 4,000 people in quality, engineering, operations, and logistics roles, injecting over £700 million annually into the South West economy.

The project is already creating opportunities. Recruitment will add approximately 1,600 positions over the next year as production equipment gets installed and tested.

Industry Minister Chris McDonald praised the decision to source 100 percent British steel for construction. The choice demonstrates confidence in UK manufacturing capabilities while supporting domestic jobs and reducing the project's carbon footprint.

Construction partner Sir Robert McAlpine worked alongside steel contractor Severfield to complete this phase. A new £100 million motorway junction on the M5, designed specifically for the factory, is also underway through contractor Costain Group.

Earl Wiggins, Agratas' vice president of Manufacturing Operations, emphasized that the milestone represents more than engineering achievement. It signals momentum toward world-class battery manufacturing capacity on British soil.

The facility addresses a critical gap in the UK's electric vehicle supply chain. Currently, most EV batteries used in British-made cars come from overseas, adding costs and complexity. Domestic production will strengthen the industry's competitiveness and resilience.

External cladding and roofing installation begin next, protecting the interior spaces where sensitive battery production equipment will eventually operate. The pace of progress suggests the facility could start producing batteries sooner than many expected, accelerating Britain's transition to electric transportation.