The Gravity Executive Sub-Committee met to discuss the progress of the Gravity Enterprise Zone, receiving an update from the University Centre College Group on skills and training delivery, and reviewing the delivery progress report for the second quarter of 2025. The committee noted the progress of the programme.

Gravity Enterprise Zone Progress

The committee reviewed the delivery progress report for the second quarter of 2025. The report highlighted progress on the Agratas site, including the completion of approximately 17,000 piles to form the foundations for Building One, and the start of steelwork erection in June 2025. Agratas has confirmed that 100% of the steel used for the build is sourced from British suppliers.

The report also noted the approval of the first Employment and Skills Plan (ESP) for the Gravity site, linked to the delivery of Agratas' Building One, which aims to create job and training opportunities for local people during construction. Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), Agratas' contractor, is working with the council to develop an action plan to deliver the commitments included in the ESP.

The Faraday Institution delivered a day of activities at Chilton Trinity School in June 2025, focusing on future fuels, sustainability, and the role of batteries in the energy transition.

Job vacancies at SRM for the construction phase are being promoted locally through the council's Community Employment Hubs and the Step-Up Somerset website. A workforce development strategy to secure permanent staff for the Gigafactory is being prepared by Agratas.

Planning Update

The Local Planning Authority is working with Agratas, This is Gravity Limited, the Environment Agency, National Highways, National Grid Electricity Transmission plc, the Department of Business and Trade (DBT), and other government agencies to support the delivery of the Agratas battery cell manufacturing facility and associated infrastructure.

Agratas and SRM discharged their pre-commencement conditions in relation to the Demolition and Construction Environment Management Plan and Site Waste Management Plan in June 2025.

Early works are underway or forthcoming on the Gravity site, including project offices and welfare facilities for the construction of Agratas Building One, welfare facilities for the proposed substation, and works to facilitate the water supply installation.

Two further applications for compliance with the Gravity Local Development Order¹ (LDO) have been submitted:

• Building One Amendments: Submitted by Agratas for amendments to the Building One design, resulting in a reduction in length of the building by 84 metres and an overall floorspace reduction of approximately 60,000 sqm.
• Ring Road (Phase One): Submitted by Agratas for a ring road around the perimeter of the Gravity Site and associated landscape proposals.

A Commencement of Development Notice required under the terms of the LDO s106 Agreement was submitted by Agratas on 25 June 2025, as development has commenced on part of the Gravity Site.

The council is expecting at least one further LDO compliance application for a new substation on land allocated for Energy Distribution and Management Infrastructure by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc.

A Framework Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) remains in place between the council and Agratas, and a Framework PPA has also been agreed with National Grid Electricity Transmission plc.

Risk Management

The key programme risks were agreed by the members at the first meeting of the sub-committee on 21 January 2025. The current programme risk overview includes 13 risks – seven high (red) and six medium (amber).

Since the previous report, the PMO team have evaluated and updated the 'cause' for each risk, allocated an 'owner' for each risk, and assigned mitigating actions. The following changes have been made:

• GRA0007 Lack of communication with stakeholders and local communities: The score has increased from 9 to 12. A mitigating action has been identified and included, focusing on greater utilisation of council resources to amplify corporate messaging.
• GRA0010 Failure of the council to recognise the importance of the Gravity project and the consequences that therefore brings: The score has reduced from 16 to 12. Mitigating actions have been identified and included, focusing on communicating key delivery progress and raising awareness of the project across the council, and ensuring opportunities that the project brings are reflected in key strategies and policies.

University Centre College Group Update

The committee received a presentation from the University Centre College Group (UCCG) on skills and training delivery.