Jaguar Land Rover owner confirms £4bn electric car battery factory will be built in Somerset

An impression of what the factory will look like. Credit: Agratas

A giant electric car battery giga-factory, set to be the 'biggest in the country', will be built in Somerset, it's been announced.

Tata confirmed in July last year that it had chosen to build its next so-called gigafactory in the UK. It secured about £500 million in UK Government subsidies to do so.

It has now been confirmed the factory will be built on a site near Bridgwater.

Around 4,000 jobs will be created for people to work in the multi-billion pound factory, which will be based at the Gravity Smart Campus.

A spokesperson from battery manufacturer Agratas, who has acquired the factory, said: "It's hoped that by the early 2030s, the facility will contribute almost half of the projected battery manufacturing capacity required for the UK automotive sector.

"To realise the transformative potential of the gigafactory, Agratas will work closely with local and regional partners, including Somerset Council, Bridgwater and Taunton College, and the wider Gravity Smart Campus, to deliver bespoke education and training programmes in the region, creating local jobs for local people."

Thousands of residents living near the site of the future gigafactory campus are set to receive a leaflet through the post this week, introducing Agratas to the community.

In addition to providing insight into Agratas’ plans, the leaflet invites people to follow Agratas’ community WhatsApp channel for regular updates on the site’s progress.

Tom Flack, CEO of Agratas, said: “Our multi-billion-pound investment will bring state-of-the-art technology to Somerset, helping to supercharge Britain’s transition to electric mobility whilst creating thousands of jobs in the process.

“We care deeply about the communities we operate in, so it’s imperative to us that we work with, and listen to, our new neighbours as we build our factory in Somerset.

“That’s why we’ll be holding an event for local residents very soon, so we can share more about our plans and introduce our team to the community.”

An impression of what it's hoped the £4bn factory will look like. Credit: Agratas

Councillor Bill Revans, leader of Somerset Council, said: “This is momentous for the county, its economy and for future generations.

“It’s about seizing an incredible opportunity to be at the heart of the UK’s green energy industry that will create thousands of highly-skilled, well-paid, green jobs.”

Investment minister Lord Johnson of Lainston said: “This is fantastic news for Somerset, and will create 4,000 direct jobs plus thousands more in the wider supply chain.

“We’re committed to making the UK one of the very best places in the world for automotive investment, and Tata Group’s decision to build its gigafactory here shows once again that this Government’s plan for the car industry is working.”

Construction on the site will be completed in phases, the company says, with battery production set to start in 2026.