Britishvolt buys ‘gigafactory’ site
Company wants to create 3,000 jobs at plant
ACOMPANY hoping to build a 3,000-job “gigafactory” making batteries for electric vehicles has bought the site on the Northumberland coast it has earmarked for the project.
Britishvolt has acquired the site at Blyth after working with Northumberland County Council on the land deal.
The company, which needs to raise £1.2bn to make its plans a reality, says the acquisition of the former Blyth Power Station site means it is on course to start construction of the plant later this year and begin production of batteries by 2023.
Britishvolt chairman Peter Rolton said: “This is a hugely positive and historic move forward for Britishvolt.”
ACOMPANY hoping to build a 3,000-job “gigafactory” making batteries for electric vehicles has bought the site on the Northumberland coast it has earmarked for the project.
Britishvolt has acquired the site at Blyth after working with Northumberland County Council on the land deal.
The company, which needs to raise £1.2bn to make its plans a reality, says the acquisition of the former Blyth Power Station site means it is on course to start construction of the plant later this year and begin production of batteries by 2023.
Britishvolt says the plant will eventually produce enough batteries to power up to 300,000 vehicles a year, creating 3,000 direct jobs and another 5,000 in the supply chain.
A planning application for the site has been submitted to Northumberland County Council and the company is working with Barclays and investment company Guggenheim Capital on two initial fundraising rounds.
Britishvolt chairman Peter Rolton: “This is a hugely positive and historic move forward for Britishvolt.
“The deal wouldn’t have happened without the expert input and collaboration of Northumberland County Council and we would like to thank the council for all of its help and support to date. It has helped us secure the best site in the UK for a Gigaplant, a project of vital strategic
importance.” The company hopes the demand for UK-made electric batteries – caused by the push for all cars to be electric by 2030, combined with a need for batteries to be sourced in either the UK or the EU under the terms of the post-Brexit trade deal – will create demand for its products. It initially said it wanted to set up a factory in south Wales, but later switched to the plot at Blyth, saying it allowed it to set up more quickly as the land has been cleared. Good transport links, a coastal location and access to renewable energy were also plusses for the Northumberland site.
Daljit Lally, chief executive of
Northumberland County Council, said: “We recognise the significance of this investment in the county, and the land deal helps lay the foundations to move to the next stage.
“This project has solid support across the county, and we look forward to working with Britishvolt as their plans progress.”
Britishvolt CEO and founder Orral Nadjari said: “This is an important step in Britishvolt’s mission. We remain on track in every conceivable way and taking full ownership of our Northumberland site is further proof of our commitment to the UK economy and the automotive industry.
“It is our vision to collaborate with the world-class UK battery development R&D ecosystem to help drive the country forward in the next industrial revolution, ensuring that the UK remains a powerhouse on the global manufacturing map.
“The gigaplant will make some of the most sustainable, low-carbon batteries in the world. Northumberland will be home to the best battery gigaplant site in Europe, if not the world, and this will create direct, future-proofed, employment for around 3,000 people.”
Blyth Valley MP Ian Levy said: “Britishvolt securing the site to build a gigafactory is absolutely fantastic news. The economic impact of the project is almost impossible to quantify but it will certainly transform the area. Having first met with the Britishvolt team last year when they setup an office in Blyth I am delighted with the rapid progress, and would like to congratulate all involved including the county council leader Glen Sanderson.”