Builders ditch UK's biggest gigafactory as opening slips to late 2027

Agratas is changing construction partners on its Somerset battery gigafactory after Sir Robert McAlpine completed the first phase of work, while the project’s opening target has slipped again to late 2027.

The company said it reviewed the requirements of the project and decided to move to a new contractor for the next stage. TSL has been appointed for that phase, according to the reporting.

The Bridgwater site is one of the UK’s largest planned EV battery investments. It has been described as a £4 billion project and is expected to support about 4,000 to 4,200 jobs once operational.

Contractor change

Sir Robert McAlpine is understood to be stepping away after completing phase one, by mutual agreement with Agratas. The move marks a handover rather than an abandonment of the project, with the next phase now set to be handled by TSL.

Agratas has not suggested the switch was caused by a collapse in the scheme. Instead, it said it reviewed the project’s needs and decided to transition to a different construction partner for the next stage.

A timetable that has already slipped

The latest update adds to a timetable that has been under pressure for some time. Earlier reporting had tied the plant to a 2026 opening target, but April coverage said the project was already trending toward an end-2027 production date after the UK government awarded Agratas a £380 million grant.

The new reporting says the opening target has now moved to late 2027. It is not fully clear whether that refers to the start of battery production or to a fuller operational ramp-up.

That distinction matters because the plant has been sold as a strategic addition to the UK’s electric-vehicle supply chain, not just as a construction milestone.

Why the plant matters

The Somerset site is intended to supply batteries for Jaguar Land Rover electric vehicles. Any change in the timetable affects when domestic battery supply is available for a major UK carmaker that is trying to scale its EV production.

The project also carries wider industrial-policy significance. The government’s April grant helped anchor the scheme, and earlier reporting suggested officials were concerned about the investment and relocation risk if support was not provided.

The factory has also been presented as a major regional jobs commitment. The reported 4,000 to 4,200 roles would make it one of the most significant manufacturing projects in the area.

What happens next

The key questions now are whether TSL’s appointment covers the full next phase or a narrower part of the build, and whether Agratas will keep the end-2027 target unchanged.

There is also still uncertainty over the project’s headline cost. Coverage has described it as a £4 billion plant, while government-related reporting cited by The Guardian put the total investment at £5.2 billion.

Further statements from Agratas, the contractors or the government would help clarify whether this is simply a planned handover between phases or the start of another schedule change.