Planning Approved for the UK's First Ever Full-Scale Gigaplant!

This project will help to establish the UK as a leader in Electric Vehicle (EV) battery technology, in tandem with the automotive industry’s evolution towards Net Zero Carbon (NZC).

The unanimous decision by the Council shows its recognition of the importance of this £2.6bn project, which is one of the largest industrial investments in British history and the single largest in the North East of England since Nissan’s arrival in 1984. The project will create over 8,000 employment opportunities, c.3,000 of those will be direct highly skilled jobs and upwards of 5,000 jobs in the associated supply chains, boosting the local economy. In addition, apprenticeships and working opportunities for ex-offenders are also included on the list of benefits that the project will create. When coupled with Britishvolt’s world-class Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework, the Britishvolt Gigaplant is one of the most exciting and advantageous projects in the UK.

Appointed in October 2020 to deliver multi-disciplinary engineering design services for the project, Rolton Group is working alongside Ridge and Partners LLP (Ridge), Gardiner & Theobald LLP (G&T), ISG plc, NG Bailey to design, engineer and build the facility at the former site of Blyth Power Station, strategically chosen by Britishvolt for its access to clean, renewable energy and excellent transport links.

The Gigaplant site covers 95-hectares and will produce world-leading lithium-ion batteries for EV’s making it a fundamental piece of the UK’s drive to achieving a NZC economy by 2050.

Rolton Group’s appointment to provide geotechnical, civil, structural and MEP building services engineering and advice followed our energy team’s provision of strategic energy advice to the UK Government, assessing suitable sites for Gigaplant’s across the UK.

This planning approval means that Rolton Group, together with the entire consultant and contracting team, can progress to the next stage of the projects development with construction aiming to commence by the start of Q3 2021 with an overall completion date for Phase 1 set for the end of Q4 2023.

Allan Rose, Project Director for Rolton Group said of the occasion:

“What a fantastic result for Britishvolt, to see their planning proposal approved unanimously. This is a true milestone for such an ambitious project with “doing the right thing” at the heart of all motivations and on the road to developing the UK’s green economy. It’s a brilliant opportunity for Northumberland, the North East and the UK’s evolving automotive industry.”

Huge congratulations to everyone involved.