Agratas has marked a key construction milestone at its UK manufacturing complex in Bridgwater, holding a topping out ceremony to celebrate completion of the steel frame for Building One.

Although the steelwork finished in late January, poor weather postponed the event until conditions improved, enabling more than 200 partners, contractors and team members to gather safely on site.

Sir Robert McAlpine was appointed as Agratas' official delivery partner in July 2024. The first steel was erected in June 2025, with the Building One frame finalised in seven months. The structure now stretches 525 metres long, 167 metres wide and up to 34 metres high.

The site has a notable past: once a munitions factory during the Second World War, it later lay unused until Gravity took ownership and began early groundworks. Agratas acquired the land in 2024 and rapidly accelerated development.

To date, the team has installed more than 20,000 piles to support the facility, and 23,000 tonnes of British-made steel forms the backbone of the plant. The area where guests assembled will ultimately become the A Zone, where the electrode will be turned into a physical cell.

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Building One is set to be the largest battery manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom, underpinning the transition to electric mobility. It will produce clean, green batteries, cut dependence on fossil fuels, and help advance the UK’s net zero goals.

Earl Wiggins, Vice President of Manufacturing Operations at Agratas, said: "Completing the steels for Building One of our facility represents more than just the final beam being placed. It symbolises the collective effort, precision, and dedication of every person who has contributed to bringing this vision off the drawing board and into reality."

Craig Allen, Sector Managing Director, Industrial, Sir Robert McAlpine, added: "We are immensely proud to be delivering this flagship project as Agratas' official delivery partner. The ceremony was a celebration of all we have achieved to this point and a chance to recognise the successful collaboration from all project partners as we forge ahead with the rest of the programme."

The ceremony also acknowledged key contributors, including construction partner Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM); design consultants Stantec; planners Turner & Townsend; steel contractor Severfield; and the Agratas Capital Projects team, with special recognition for Earl Wiggins, Garith Griffiths, Kass Olivier and Steve Clayton.

The next steps will see external cladding and roofing installed, followed by internal fit-out, as the project progresses from a completed frame to a fully operational hub of innovation, productivity and community.