A project aiming to bring 3,000 jobs to the North East is set to another step forward today with the start of preparations for the construction phase.
Britishvolt, which wants to build a gigafactory near Blyth, Northumberland, to build batteries for electric vehicles, is handing the site to construction partner ISG to begin enabling work.
Planning permission for the factory was granted by Northumberland County Council earlier this year, though Britishvolt still has to raise more than £1bn to bring its plans to reality.
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But the company said the start of enabling works represents a “major milestone” for the project, which is hoped will create 3,000 direct jobs and another 5,000 in its supply chain.
Richard McDonell, Britishvolt project director, said: “Today is a historic day as it marks the start of construction on the 海角视频’s premier gigaplant, Britishvolt – a landmark event for 海角视频 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 yet another milestone on our journey to building the 海角视频’s first full-scale gigaplant. It’s a boost for 海角视频 plc and the real kick-start of the energy transition, of which Britishvolt batteries will be at the very heart.”
Britishvolt hopes to start the full construction phase of the project, which will provide work for around 2,500 people, later this year with a view to beginning production of batteries in by the end of 2023.
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Peter Millett, high tech managing director for ISG’s Engineering Services business: “The positive momentum, passion and sense of genuine excitement that underpins this nationally important project is driving the entire team forward at pace, and this significant construction milestone demonstrates our collective commitment to 海角视频 manufacturing and to supporting communities across Northumberland.
“This is the starting point for the transformation of a disused site in Cambois with a legacy in the industrial past, that from today will become a beacon for innovation and advanced manufacturing right here in the North East.”
The new development at the Cambois site has been welcomed by Glen Sanderson, leader of Northumberland County Council.
He said: “It’s great to see work starting on the ground on a site which the council and partners have been actively engaged on in recent years to make it an attractive proposition for investors.
“Since we granted planning permission work behind the scenes has continued at pace so to see enabling works getting underway is fantastic – not just for the council and Britishvolt, but for everyone in the county.
“With thousands of jobs in the pipeline and billions of pounds of investment this is such a good news story for Northumberland and the wider region.”
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