On Monday 6th September, the keys to the site for the UK’s first Gigaplant were handed over to main contractor, ISG, ready for enabling works to begin.
Britishvolt, the UK’s foremost investor in lithium-ion battery cell technologies and associated research and development, has appointed ISG to commence preparatory works on the UK’s premier Gigaplant site in Cambois, Northumberland. This follows the unanimous decision made by Northumberland County Council in July to grant planning permission for the facility.
Richard McDonell, Britishvolt Project Director, said:
“Today is an historic day as it marks the start of construction on the UK’s premier Gigaplant, Britishvolt – a landmark event for UK manufacturing and the automotive industry on the road to zero. It is a pleasure to see our tier one construction partner, ISG and its world-class workforce, commence preliminary works on site ahead of the main construction programme, which we anticipate will start in late autumn/early winter. This initial phase will see the site cleared and preparatory work carried out for the services and infrastructure that will support construction activity.
This is an exciting announcement and marks the tangible start and progress of the main factory building where we will be producing some of the world’s lowest carbon, sustainable battery cells to help accelerate the transition to a low carbon future.”
Appointed in October 2020 to deliver multi-disciplinary engineering design services for the project, the Rolton Group team have been working alongside Britishvolt, Ridge and Partners LLP, Gardiner & Theobald LLP, ISG plc, NG Bailey and many other key consultants and suppliers to design, engineer and prepare to build the Gigaplant 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 approximately 300,000 world-leading lithium-ion batteries per annum for electric vehicles (EVs), making it a fundamental facility in establishing the UK as a leader in EV battery technology.
Allan Rose, Project Director for Rolton Group, said:
“I’m delighted to see ISG instructed to begin preparatory works for the Gigaplant in Cambois. A tremendous effort has been put in by so many to reach this project milestone and it’s great to be involved in such a fantastic development for the North East and the UK’s evolving automotive EV industries.”
