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Credit: Insider Media

Britishvolt has moved a step closer to building the country’s first full-scale lithium-ion gigaplant after its planning application for the project – which represents an investment of £2.6bn – was approved. The Northumberland facility could support the creation of thousands of jobs.

Approval paves the way for groundworks to begin by the end of the summer, with construction earmarked to begin shortly after. ISG is lead contractor.

The project will be built in three phases each of 10GWh to a total capacity of 30GWh by end-2027 onwards. Once complete it will have the capacity to make 300,000 electric vehicle battery packs per year.

The gigaplant is expected to bring 3,000 direct, high-skilled roles to the North East and a further 5,000 in the associated supply chain.

Britishvolt chairman Peter Rolton hailed the decision as a “huge win” for the business and Northumberland.

“The gigaplant will bring with it much need employment, totally regenerating the area,” he said. 

“This project is the right thing for UK plc, and its people, on the roadmap to a low carbon, sustainable future.”

President of operations Graham Hoare added:

“This is a truly monumental moment for the UK, as we move towards a low carbon society. We are clearly at a tipping point on the roadmap to electrification, and the UK government has signaled that it wants UK plc at the vanguard of the next industrial revolution.”

Northumberland Council leader Glen Sanderson said the gigaplant will be a “game changer”.

“We’ve a long and proud history of industry in this part of Northumberland and a factory and investment of this size will put this area firmly on the map once again for generations to come.

“Here in Northumberland we’re at the forefront of the offshore renewable energy industry and this is a massive boost. The decision by Britishvolt to choose Northumberland demonstrates just what this county has to offer in terms of its location, its facilities, an ambitious council, and more importantly, its workforce.”

Find out more about Britishvolt, here.