UK law firm Ashfords has been appointed to advise Somerset Council on the consenting, funding and development of a £4 billion battery gigafactory in Bridgwater by Agratas, Tata Group’s global battery business.
The gigafactory will produce nearly half of the projected battery manufacturing capacity required for the UK automotive sector by the early 2030s, cementing the UK's future for green transport.
The re-development of the site represents an opportunity for Somerset Council to establish a nationally significant manufacturing base that will attract international operators and create up to 7,500 jobs.
The site was previously used for manufacturing munitions during World War II and is located within a designated enterprise zone.
Ashfords has advised on innovative public sector funding mechanisms, procurement, subsidy control and grant funding structures. In addition, Ashfords advised in relation to the planning agreement, which sets out the framework for how the campus will be managed and enabled the council to make a local development order.
Lucy Woods, head of the firm’s public sector offering, said: “It has been a real pleasure to work with the council team on this groundbreaking project, it is particularly exciting as the ambitions of the site dovetail with our firm’s strong commitment to a green future.”
Ashfords was instructed via the CCS framework. Ashfords’ public sector team provides advice on legal opportunities and challenges for government and public sector service providers across the country. The team was ranked Tier 2 in this year’s Legal 500 in its relevant category.
| Ashfords are valued legal partners to a wide range of corporate, public and private clients across the UK and internationally; counted on by clients to get the right result whether that’s delivering commercial objectives, protecting family assets, making investments or solving disputes. |
