Sir Robert McAlpine has been appointed as the main contractor for the first phase of a multi-billion-pound Agratas battery factory in Somerset.
The firm has signed a preconstruction services agreement to deliver Building One, the first of three buildings, in Agratas’ battery cell manufacturing facility.
Building One and ancillary development comprises 244,710 sqm GEA of built area, more than 35 per cent larger than Wembley Stadium.
Sir Robert McAlpine will now start preparations for development, scheduled to finish in 2026.
Preparatory works have been underway at the site for several months already, with piling for Building One expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Once all phases of construction are complete, the facility is set to be the biggest of its kind in the UK.
By the early 2030s it 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 three and four of the supply chain.
Agratas and Sir Robert McAlpine aim to deliver a Workforce Development Strategy for a local first approach, prioritising surrounding communities.
Grant Findlay, executive managing director for buildings at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “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.”
Joe Hibbert, vice president for capital projects at Agrata, said: “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.”
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