2 min read - 12 Feb, 2026
Major construction milestone reached at £4bn UK battery gigafactory
Agratas has marked a key construction milestone and a significant step forward in the delivery of a £4bn battery gigafactory in Somerset. The steel frame for its new facility in Bridgwater is now complete, using 100% British-sourced steel.
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 ‘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.
Completion of the major structural phase paves the way for the next stages of construction, which include external cladding, roofing installation, and internal fit-out.
The steel frame for a new £4bn battery gigafactory in Somerset has been completed, using 100% British-sourced steel / Picture: Agratas
Recruitment will continue over the course of the next year – reaching a total of approximately 1,600 people – to support battery cell production at the 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 £700m in annual economic value to the South West region.
Earl Wiggins, vice president of manufacturing operations at Agratas, said: “Reaching this milestone is about more than just beams and steel – it represents an important step in bringing this facility to life. It also demonstrates the momentum of the project and our commitment to developing world-class battery manufacturing capacity here in the UK. My continued thanks go to Agratas team members based both on site and working behind the scenes, and to our contractors supporting the build.”
Chris McDonald, industry minister, added: “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. 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’s construction delivery partner, Sir Robert McAlpine, in collaboration with steel contractor Severfield and the integrated design and engineering team at Stantec.
