Contractors appointed to build battery gigafactory
Work on a massive new battery plant in Sunderland to power a new generation of electric cars has moved a step closer.
Envision AESC submitted plans for the gigafactory, which will be built at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP), as part ofa£1billionpartnershipwith Nissan and Sunderland City
Council to create an electric vehicle hub supporting the next generation of electric vehicle production.
Plans for the factory were submitted in July.
Now the Wates Group and Turner & Townsend have beenappointedtoleadthedesign and project manage the building work.
Wates will develop an adaptabledesignthatprovides the infrastructure to support battery production by 2024, whileTurner&Townsendwill actastheprojectmanagerand cost manager.
Planning permission was grantedinOctoberforthefactory, which represents an initial9GWhplantwithpotential future-phase investment by Envision AESC of £1.8billion, which will create 4,500 new high-value green jobs in the region by 2030.
As part of the design process,Watesisalreadyengaging with local supply chain partners, seeking their input on areasrangingfromcleanutilitiestofireprotectionservices.
Chris Caygill, Managing
DirectoroftheEnvisionAESC battery plant, said: “Envision AESC is pleased to be working with both Wates Group and Turner & Townsend as key partners in this next stage of our UK gigafactory development.
"Each brings unique strengths to the project that will help deliver a world-class batterymanufacturingfacility essentialtohelpingtheUKautomotive industry transition to a fully electrified future.
“We pride ourselves particularly on the safety record of our batteries, which continually achieve zero critical incidents in new product and process designs. Together with smart, digitally integrated clean energy generation, storage and use in our battery plants, we are supporting the global transition towards net zero carbon energy targets.”
Paul Dodsworth, Regional Managing Director of Wates Construction in the North, added: “We are committed to creating new opportunities for the local people that need it most.”