Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, has been selected to provide integrated design services for Agratas, Tata Group’s global battery business, which is building a battery-cell manufacturing facility on the Gravity Smart Campus near Bridgwater, Somerset. The new advanced manufacturing facility, comprising three separate buildings with associated ancillary structures, will create up to 4,000 jobs on-site over the lifespan of the project and thousands more in the supply chain.

With innovative technologies and resource efficient processes, the facility will produce high-quality, high-performance, sustainable battery cells. The next generation of batteries will support Britain’s energy transition and power hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles (EVs). This is one of the most significant manufacturing investments in the UK, and the factory will be one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

Gord Johnston, president and chief executive officer of Stantec, said: “The Agratas facility will be pioneering in battery-cell production, addressing demand in the advanced manufacturing space in the UK head-on, while benefitting productivity, the climate, and the economy. Stantec has strong capabilities in the advanced manufacturing space, and we look forward to working closely with Agratas to provide our significant breadth and depth of experience and support the successful completion of its project.”

Joe Hibbert, Agratas vice president of capital projects, said: “We look forward to working with Stantec to design the UK’s largest battery cell manufacturing facility. Using ‘state of the art’ technology, our facility will power the transition to electric mobility and clean energy storage. Our partnership with Stantec is the next step in our mission to deliver best-in-class battery solutions for our global customers.”

Over the past 15 years, Stantec has been instrumental in paving the way for the Gravity site to be selected as the UK home for Agratas’ new manufacturing facility. The firm served as a strategic advisor for the project, leading the Local Development Order consenting process, making it an attractive inward investment opportunity. It has provided a variety of services including engineering design, planning, environmental, technical services, and project management at the site.

Pairing global expertise with extensive local knowledge, Stantec will provide architecture, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and civil engineering services, as well as risk management, planning compliance, BIM management, landscape architecture, and more. Drees & Sommer, a key partner for Stantec, is providing clean room/dry room design services while additional consultants will provide fire protection engineering and building control services.