Firm behind gigafactory plans to meet with locals

THE company behind the proposed £4 billion gigafactory in Somerset will today start explaining its plans to local residents at a series of meetings.

Agratas, the global battery business owned by Indian conglomerate Tata, is holding its first community events regarding its plans for the former Royal Ordnance Factory site in Woolavington.

The development is forecast to ultimately create 4,000 highly-skilled green tech jobs in the area, with thouthe sands more in the UK supply chain. It is hosting five events over the next week when attendees will have the chance to hear about the company’s plans for the state-of-the-art facility, ask questions, share feedback and understand more about what will happen over the next few years as the site starts to take shape.

The events culminate with the chance for residents and Bridgwater & Taunton College students to hear directly from CEO Tom Flack, and specialists in Agratas’s strategy, R&D, sustainability and operations teams, about the company’s cutting-edge battery technologies and the jobs that will be created locally.

Mr Flack said: “We’ve received a warm welcome since announcing that we’ll be making Somerset our home. We know everyone is keen to hear more about our plans to get going onsite, the types of jobs that will be created and when those opportunities will start to be available.

“The whole team is looking forward to engaging with students and Somerset residents, and to building a long-term partnership that will turn this region into an advanced manufacturing centre of excellence, fit for the future.”

Agratas confirmed in February that it would build what is expected to be Britain’s biggest building at the Gravity Smart Campus at Woolavington, near Bridgwater.

The first phase of construction is expected to start later this year.

The consultation events will be at: Bitham Walk Hall, Woolavington from 10am until noon today.

Puriton Sports Centre from 2.30pm until 4.30pm today.

Bridgwater and Taunton College from 5pm until 8pm on Tuesday, April 30.

Puriton Village Hall from 6pm until 8pm, Wednesday, May 1.

Bitham Walk Hall, Woolvington, from 6pm until 8pm on Thursday, May 2.

Picture: Agratas > A mock-up of what the gigafactory in Somerset will look like