Rob Stevens, Author at Gravity

Gravity received ‘Highly Commended’ accolade at Property Week 2025 Awards

3rd July 20253rd July 2025 by Rob Stevens

Gravity recognised as ‘highly commended’ at Property Week 2025 Awards

Following its shortlisting for ‘Deal of the Year – Industrial & Logistics’ in May, Gravity is proud to share that it was named runner-up and received a ‘Highly Commended’ accolade at the annual Property Week Property Awards.

On 1 July 2025, over 1,000 professionals including developers, investors, entrepreneurs, financiers, and agencies gathered for Property Week’s annual Property Awards at Grosvenor House, London, for an evening of celebration. The event honoured thirty-three winners recognised for their excellence, dedication, innovation, and impact in shaping the future of the industry.

The Gravity team extends its congratulations to Tritax Big Box, the winners of the ‘Deal of the Year – Industrial & Logistics’ category and to all of the other award winners celebrated at the event.

Gravity Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Tom Curtis, commented: “The Gravity team is proud to have been recognised by its industry peers. We are working closely with Agratas, National Grid and Somerset Council to deliver the UK’s largest battery manufacturing facility.”

Judges comments: “A landmark deal, unlocking £4bn of green investment and securing Europe’s largest battery manufacturer for the UK. This transformative project marks the biggest automotive investment since Nissan in the 1980s — a powerful example of strategic vision and impact”

The full list of the winners from the night can be found here.

About Gravity

Gravity is the UK’s first strategic commercial smart campus and a blueprint for a ‘cleaner’, smarter future. Anchored by the 40 GWh Agratas battery manufacturing facility, the campus is now the catalyst for economic transformation across the South West. Delivering the Gravity campus will support the wider efforts towards transport decarbonisation as well as the UK’s acceleration progress on electrification.

Our site is at the heart of an ideal ecosystem and is the platform of choice to stimulate home-grown advanced battery manufacturing, it offers unrivalled connectivity, planning flexibility and access to world-class assets and talent pool with expertise in innovation and clean growth. Underpinning the ability to serve a multitude of customers across sectors in the transition to a net zero economy.

Gravity Look Ahead – Q3 2025

2nd July 20252nd July 2025 by Rob Stevens

July – September

As we move into summer, activity across Gravity’s delivery partners has ramped up. A key milestone was reached in late June, when construction officially commenced under the Local Development Order (LDO), marked by the first steel deliveries for Agratas’ Building One structure.

National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) has progressed its early works, completing a temporary compound and platform base that will enable the delivery of its substation. Meanwhile, delivery partners are working towards a coordinated dust suppression strategy in anticipation of continued dry weather.

LDO compliance submissions have been submitted by This is Gravity Ltd for the new leisure facilities that will replace the 37 Club, and by Agratas for the revised Building One. The next LDO compliance submissions are expected for NGET’s substation and the first phase of the internal ring road.

Gravity Site works

Works to connect the site to essential utilities are progressing on schedule. The electricity connection work is now complete, and the next phase has started. This will be focused on the gas connection work to be carried out by Wales and West Utilities on behalf of This is Gravity. The closure of Woolavington Road is expected to continue until late August. Community questions during these phases should be directed to the Wales & West Utilities contact listed below.
Agratas and SRM have had extended working hours for steel related works agreed subject to a Section 61. Until December 2025 working hours will be; Monday to Friday: 07:00 – 19:00, Saturday: 07:00 – 18:00 and Sunday: 10:00 – 17:00. Click here to read about the measures to be taken to mitigate the impacts of the extended working hours. Community queries on this should be directed to the construction team via the SRM contact details listed below.
The formal completion and adoption of Enterprise Way by Somerset Council is under discussion between Gravity, Alun Griffiths and Somerset Council. Subject to agreement to carry-over remaining defects to the defect liability period, the completion certificate can be issued. Following the re-opining of Woolavington Road, works will then start on theVillage Enhancement Scheme (VES), which includes a pedestrian and cycle path connecting Purtion and Woolavington and traffic calming measures.

Other matters

Upcoming LDO compliance submissions include the NGET substation and the first phase of the internal ring road.
The respective teams will continue to support and respond to enquiries – contact details are found below.

Contacts

Gravity: info@thisisgravity.co.uk / 0207 160 0006
Agratas: communityuk@agratas.com
NGET: woolavington@nationalgrid.com / 0800 073 1047
SRM: agratas.community@srm.com / 0333 566 1122
Wales & West Utilities: Peter Withecombe – 07779878887

View and download the PDF version here.

Wales & West Utilities progress with phased works on Woolavington Road

2nd July 202530th June 2025 by Rob Stevens

Somerset Council announces Woolavington Road closure to facilitate site utility provision

A letter has been distributed to Woolavington Road residents to provide an update on the phased closures of Woolavington Road that started in April.

The electricity connection work is now complete and the next phase will begin soon.

This will be focused on the gas connection work to be carried out by Wales and West Utilities on behalf of This is Gravity.

If you have questions during these phases please contact Peter Withecombe at Wales & West Utilities on 07779878887.

Works Phasing and Closure dates :

Closure dates: (see map for reference)

Sections 5 & 3 – 30/06/25 to 11/07/25
Sections 4 & 2 – 14/07/25 to 25/07/25
Section 1 – 28/07/25 to 28/08/25

These closures will continue until late August. We will share updates to keep you informed of progress and the expected completion date.

Please be assured that all residents and businesses on Woolavington Road will be able to access their properties throughout these closures. Local businesses, the 37 Club and Woolavington Surgery will be open as usual.

General traffic will need to follow the diversion via Puriton Hill and Bath Road to travel between Puriton and Woolavington. A pedestrian and cycle path is being maintained through the work site – please remember that this is a shared space.

We appreciate that these necessary works will cause some disruption, and we thank you for your patience as we prepare for main construction on the Gravity and Agratas sites.

If you have any questions or concerns about this phase of the road closures please email the team via info@thisisgravity.co.uk

Major milestone reached at Gravity with steel frames in place for Agratas development

7th August 202530th June 2025 by Rob Stevens

Major milestone reached at Gravity with steel frames in place on Agratas development

Gravity is proud to share that construction on site has officially commenced under the Local Development Order (LDO).

The first steel frames on the Agratas site near Bridgwater, Somerset are now in place, marking a major milestone in the construction of the UK’s flagship battery manufacturing facility.

It marks the start of the next phase of construction, the vertical build, and is a visible step forward in the delivery of the facility. The steel structure will be erected in phases, with the build beginning at the north of the site.

It follows significant progress on site in recent weeks: approximately 17,000 piles are now in the ground, forming the solid foundations required to support the scale and ambition of the project. Piling for Building One, which will form the first phase of the facility, will be completed by the end of June. As activity on site continues to ramp up, additional cabins have also been delivered to accommodate the growing construction teams working to bring the facility to life.

Read the full Agratas press release here.

For more information on this milestone and wider site activity please read our Q3 2025 Look Ahead notice.

Gravity shortlisted for Property Week 2025 Property Award

2nd May 2025 by Rob Stevens

Gravity is proud to announce that it has been shortlisted for the 2025 Property Week Awards in the ‘Deal of the Year: Industrial and Logistics’ category. The award shortlisting reflects the sale of 308 acres of the Gravity Enterprise Zone to Agratas, Tata Group’s battery subsidiary.

The deal provided Agratas with the land, connectivity and access to power to develop the UK’s largest battery manufacturing facility, representing a £4bn investment, creating up to 4,000 on-site jobs and many more thousands in the supply chain.

This shortlisting follows Gravity’s win at the Insider South West Property Awards 2024, securing the title of ‘Property Deal of the Year’.

Tom Curtis, Gravity Co-Founder & Co-CEO, commented: “This shortlisting vindicates all the hard work that the home team have put into this extraordinary project. We are proud to be shortlisted alongside other great projects and look forward to the award ceremony.”

Martin Belammy, Gravity Chairman and Co-CEO, commented: “We welcome the shortlisting by Property Week for this prestigious award and are proud to be nominated alongside other transformational opportunities.”

The award ceremony will take place on 1st July at Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

Click here to view the 2025 finalists.

About Gravity

Gravity is the UK’s first strategic commercial smart campus and a blueprint for a ‘cleaner’, smarter future. Anchored by the 40 GWh Agratas Gigafactory, the campus is now the catalyst for economic transformation across the South West. Delivering the Gravity campus will support the wider efforts towards transport decarbonisation as well as the UK’s acceleration progress on electrification.

Gravity joins Agratas and National Grid at community consultation events

14th April 2025 by Rob Stevens

Gravity joins Agratas and National Grid (NGET) at community consultation events

Representatives from Gravity attended three community consultation events hosted in Puriton and Woolavington between April 1^st and April 5^th.

Across the events, Agratas discussed their latest plans for ‘Building One’ and the proposed ring road. National Grid Energy Transmission (NGET) were at the consultation events presenting their plans for the proposed Woolavington substation, which will power the Agratas facility, as well as wider
parts of the Gravity Smart Campus.

Agratas’ display boards were presented with the details, which you can find here.

Feedback on Agratas’ latest plans can be submitted here.
Feedback on NGET’s proposed substation can be submitted here.

Gravity Look Ahead – Q2 2025

7th April 20253rd April 2025 by Rob Stevens

April – June

The new Enterprise Way site access opened during Q1, while the former site entrance will still be used as needed. In early April, community consultation events were held regarding the proposed ring road, amendments to Building One and the NGET substation.

To connect the site to essential utilities, sections of Woolavington Road (between Enterprise Way and Woolavington Village) will be closed in phases, starting April 14th and lasting up to five months. Somerset Council will share finalised details on which parts will be closed when. All residents and businesses on Woolavington Road will have access to their properties throughout the closures.
Click here for more information.

Gravity Site works

TIG contractors are monitoring the landscaping on the link road (Enterprise Way) and replacing, as necessary until completion is formally signed off.
Substructures for the first phase of the build are now complete, and a subcontractor has been selected for the structural steel with initial order placed, targeting June 2025 commencement on site.
The formal completion and adoption of Enterprise Way by Somerset Council is expected after snagging has been completed by the contractor. Works will then start on the Village Enhancement Scheme (VES), which includes a pedestrian and cycle path connecting Purtion and Woolavington and traffic calming measures.
National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) was also present at the April community consultation sessions to discuss plans for their proposed substation, which will power the Agratas facility and wider parts of the Gravity Smart Campus.
Site preparation and early works will continue, including material import and management.
Work to recycle site material will continue.

Other matters

Formal governance arrangements required under the LDO with the Council and other partners are now in place.
Enquiries- the respective teams will continue to support and respond to enquiries.

Contact Gravity

Newsletter: Click here to subscribe
Email: info@thisisgravity.co.uk

Contact Agratas

Email: communityuk@agratas.net
WhatsApp Channel

Contact Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM)

Email: agratas.community@srm.com

View and download the PDF version here.

Somerset Council announces Woolavington Road closure to facilitate site utility provision

14th April 202527th March 2025 by Rob Stevens

As spring approaches, roadworks to extend utilities to Agratas and Gravity progress closer to the site, requiring local road closures to facilitate the work.

To connect the site to the necessary utilities, sections of Woolavington Road between Enterprise Way roundabout and Woolavington Village will be closed in phases, starting from April 14^th, lasting up to five months.

Details of which sections will be closed when will be shared by Somerset Council locally when they have been finalised. All residents and businesses on Woolavington Road will be catered for and will be able to access their properties throughout these closures.

Gravity and Agratas’ contractors will be doing their best to complete the works in less than five months.

Somerset Council’s Traffic Management Team has been liaising with contractors to coordinate their work and make sure they access to the road together, instead of the road needing to be closed multiple times.

Follow this link for more information.

Gravity to join Agratas at series of community consultation sessions

24th March 20256th March 2025 by Rob Stevens

Gravity will join Agratas at the upcoming community consultation sessions planned for early April. The sessions are designed to keep residents informed and will provide an opportunity for community members to:

Review the proposed new ring road design
Explore first-phase building adaptations
Provide direct feedback on project developments

Event details:

1st April – Woolavington Village Hall – 17:00-19:00
2^nd April – Puriton Primary School – 17:00-19:00
5^th April – Puriton Primary School – 12:00-14:00

Local communities can stay updated on event details by following the Agratas WhatsApp channel.

Gravity’s Programme Director attends ‘Opportunity Somerset’ roundtable

24th March 20253rd February 2025 by Rob Stevens

On January 23^rd 2025, Gravity’s Programme Director, Paul Lowndes, joined a roundtable hosted by Insider Media. This series of events brings together business leaders and policymakers to discuss Somerset’s future as a hub for clean growth and economic opportunity.

The Opportunity Somerset roundtable is a platform to explore how the region can continue to attract investment, foster innovation, and drive sustainability across industries.

Panellists involved;

Harry Singer, Chair, Somerset Growth Board
Andrew Cockcroft, Head of Stakeholder Relationships and Social Impact, EDF UK
Emma Warren, Chair, Somerset Chamber
Dave Beaumont, Growth Consultant and Board member, Stephens Scown
Nick Hancock, Finance Director, Somerset Larder
Stephen Wray, Lead Partner, Somerset, Stephens Scown

Paul Lowndes at the event commented; “I have great confidence in the future of Somerset, and the Great South West as a wider region. There’s a magnet effect of having Hinkley Point C and Gravity and everything that Somerset has done to bring those two huge projects here. We have more attention within the greater South West than we’ve ever had before. There is huge support for those two projects”

To learn more about the Opportunity Somerset roundtable, visit the full article on Insider Media: www.insidermedia.com/roundtables/opportunity-somerset

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