The race to get the nation ready for a future without combustion engines has taken a major step forward with news that the north east of England will build a major battery Gigafactory.

A UK start-up, Britishvolt, is to develop a production facility on the same site as Blyth Power Station in Northumberland, with the aim of opening within the next three years.

It’s thought that the factory could create 3,000 jobs for the region, with the potential for 5,000 more across the supply chain for batteries.

Britishvolt claim that when the site is running it full-capacity it will be capable of producing 300,00 lithium-ion batteries a year, the ability to plug a major gap in the infrastructure of EV production in the UK.

“This is an incredibly exciting announcement that will have a massive impact in the constituency and the surrounding area for decades to come,” said the region’s MP, Ian Levy. “I can’t think of anything comparable in the North East since Nissan invested in Sunderland more than 35 years ago.

“There is still much to do – but the prospect of the UK’s first Gigafactory on the old Blyth Power Station site directly creating up to 8,000 jobs is amazing. These jobs will not only return the area to the status of an industrial powerhouse but will help us retain our graduates and provide a huge boost to struggling high streets.

“I look forward to working with all involved and will provide the backing necessary to deliver a scheme that is a once in a generation opportunity.”

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