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Local Development Order Delivery Group

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This is Gravity Limited (TIGL) in collaboration with Somerset Council (SC) and delivery partners, are in the process of gearing up preparations for the implementation stage of the Gravity Local Development Order (LDO) adopted in February 2022 for the Gravity Smart Campus.

To assist with technical coordination the Gravity LDO Delivery Group is being restarted. This group which comprises statutory consultees and key delivery partners, helped to facilitate the preparation of the Gravity LDO between 2020-22. Each member of the LDO Delivery Group was responsible for providing guidance, technical input, working collaboratively and assisting in delivering specific activities associated with the site as appropriate.

The LDO Delivery Group will receive regular updates and briefings from TIGL, Agratas, the Council and delivery partners on what proposals will be coming forward, with a look ahead programme to help members of the group understand the potential forthcoming resourcing requirements to support the implementation stage.

This will inform further updates with the community and wider stakeholders through newsletters and site updates to ensure effective coordination and communication.

Members of the public can of course raise queries through key contact points for This Is Gravity, Somerset Council and Agratas –  communityuk@agratas.net

Gravity welcomes Agratas Gigafactory as first site occupier

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GRAVITY WELCOMES AGRATAS GIGAFACTORY AS FIRST SMART CAMPUS OCCUPIER

Plans to build Britain’s biggest electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Somerset have been announced.

Agratas – Tata Group’s global battery business – have confirmed that the Gravity Smart Campus located near Bridgwater has been chosen as the location of its new UK gigafactory.

This will be the first time Somerset will have been formally confirmed as the location for the UK’s new gigafactory. It represents a £4 billion investment in Somerset, which will directly create 4,000 new jobs and thousands more in the wider supply chain.

And it is hugely significant for the UK as a whole. By the early 2030s, it will contribute almost half of the projected battery manufacturing capacity required for the UK automotive sector.

Local people will be kept informed at all stages of the development. People living near the site – previously known as the Royal Ordnance Factory 37 – will soon be receiving an introductory leaflet from Agratas. As owner of 50% of the remaining land holdings, This is Gravity Limited will continue to liaise with local community and stakeholders and collaborate with Agratas.

Martin Bellamy, Chairman and Tom Curtis, Co–Founders of Gravity said: “It’s impossible to overstate how important this is for the UK. It is the catalyst to kick-start the electric vehicle revolution in the UK.

As the biggest battery gigafactory in the UK, and one of the largest in Europe, its transformational impact will be enormous.

We look forward to working closely with Agratas, Somerset Council, Bridgwater & Taunton College and wider stakeholders to deliver this gigafactory as part of the Gravity Smart Campus.”

This development will enable the South West to ‘Take Charge’ and accelerate the UK’s clean and inclusive growth revolution, creating new job and business opportunities in future-facing sectors.

Councillor Bill Revans, Leader of Somerset Council, said: “This is momentous for the county, its economy and for future generations. It’s about seizing an incredible opportunity to be at the heart of the UK’s green energy industry that will create thousands of highly-skilled, well-paid, green jobs.”

Andy Berry, Principal and CEO of Bridgwater and Taunton College, welcomed the news. He said: “I’m delighted by this announcement and what it means for our community and the wider region. We’ve got a great deal of experience in workforce development – big infrastructure projects like Hinkley Point C.

…We can draw on that experience. We’ve been here and we’ve done this and Agratas can be tremendously confident in our community and in our workforce.”

ENDS

For further media information contact: r.stevens@salamanca-group.com

  • For more information about the Gravity Campus visit thisisgravity.co.uk
  • Drone footage and other Gravity material are available here.
  • Agratas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons. It designs, develops and manufactures high-quality, high-performance, sustainable batteries applied to multiple use cases in the mobility and energy sectors.
  • Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own Board of Directors.
  • Gravity is the UK’s first strategic commercial smart campus and a blueprint for a cleaner, smarter future. Anchored by the 40Gwh Agratas Gigafactory, the campus will be the catalyst for economic uplift 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 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. Underpins the ability to serve a multitude of customers across sectors in the transition to a net zero economy.

Gravity and Bristol Port 5G Connectivity

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Gravity is proud to announce that the installation of the 5G infrastructure that connects Bristol Port and the Gravity Smart Campus is now complete. The test bed project is aligned with the Gravity digital ambition to host and progress technological development to enable plans to deliver a clean growth campus to accommodate large-scale advanced manufacturing for the UK to accelerate transition to a net-zero carbon economy.  The work has been developed and delivered by a 12-partner consortium led by the West of England Combined Authority and is one of 30+ such projects funded by central government, under the 5G Testbed and Trials (5GTT) Programme.

Work on-site at Gravity started in April when nearly a kilometre of new digital cable was installed in underground ducts to connect three new 5G transmitter units mounted on 9m masts at strategic locations on the site. In line with the Gravity vision of a “Smarter, cleaner future” an accompanying temporary and portable solar array with battery storage has also been installed to establish if the networks can ultimately be off-grid.

5G Mast at Gravity
5G Mast Installation

The 5G Logistics project explores how 5G’s high levels of reliability, speed and capacity could deliver new opportunities and improvements to the port and logistics sector. It is designed to deliver solutions in 3 areas of the emerging digital agenda.

  1. Security and traceability through real-time tracking of goods and their condition
  2. Autonomous drone port surveillance and emergency response
  3. Improvements to road traffic management through 5G smart junctions

This project has developed and tested 5G products and services supporting operations between Bristol Port and Gravity Smart Campus.

5G digital coverage now makes it possible to run multiple services securely on one shared network and we anticipate the infrastructure will enable the transition into future construction at the Gravity site and implementation.

The Gravity team is proud to have collaborated with an array of innovative companies and educational institutions from across the South West on this pioneering digital project.

5G Logistics Consortium Partners

Gravity’s commitment to fostering clean and inclusive growth is designed to attract inward investment and large-scale occupiers. The new 5G infrastructure network on-site will undoubtedly add substantial value, opportunity and support to prospective tenants.  

For more information on the 5G Logistics project click this link.

UK businesses are being encouraged to think about what 5G could do for their competitiveness and the skills they will need to take full advantage of the opportunities. You can see what is being trialled or applied in different sectors here.

If you would like to learn more about the 5G Logistics project or how the technology is being used in your sector, please contact weca5glogs@westofengland-ca.gov.uk indicating:

  • Your specific area(s) of interest
  • If you would like to receive the project’s final report

Gravity Local Development Order Adopted by Sedgemoor District Council

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Gravity Local Development Order

Gravity is delighted to share that the Gravity Local Development Order (LDO) was adopted by Sedgemoor District Council on 23 February 2022.

The LDO is a streamlined form of planning consent, ideally suited to the Gravity enterprise zone and will create a  marketing tool to attract investors to Sedgemoor, Somerset. Aligned with the priority to address climate change and contribute to transport decarbonisation, Gravity can offer up to 1.1 million square metres of advanced manufacturing space and associated facilities and enabling infrastructure, with the potential to create up to 7,500 jobs, and develop up to 750 homes as an integrated part of the smart campus.

Martin Bellamy, Chairman and Chief Executive of This is Gravity Ltd commented “This is an outstanding achievement to really put UK Plc on the map and ensure we are open for business and demonstrate that we can create the conditions for investment and growth. I am particularly pleased that our vision to put clean growth at the heart of the strategy has been achieved and our ambition now is to turn a consent into occupiers and job creation which can be truly transformational for the economy and locality’.

Claire Pearce, Director of Planning and Economic Developed added “This has been a cutting edge journey, re-imagining the previous planning consent to create a more progressive response to climate change and economic restructuring, ensuing better outcomes for all. Can I extend my personal thanks to all of our consultant team for all of their hard work to achieve this major milestone, and also to our wider partners in the Gravity delivery group, businesses and the community who have been very supportive to ensure we can turn our vision into reality”.

Councillor Gill Slocombe, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Sedgemoor District commented “The Council adoption of the Gravity Local Development Order is an important step to accelerate the delivery of the enterprise zone to create jobs and opportunities for local communities and businesses in the supply chain. Sedgemoor has an exceptional track record in economic development and delivery and this decision will create long-term permanent opportunities for people beyond temporary construction jobs on other large-scale projects. We look forward to working with occupiers to enable facilities that will need to operate in a competitive, global marketplace, putting Bridgwater and wider Sedgemoor on the map and within a set of wider assets at the heart of the South West”.

About Gravity

Gravity will be the UK’s first commercial smart campus and a blueprint for a ‘cleaner’, smarter future. It aims to attract the world’s most innovative companies working in the ‘clean growth’ sectors.

Expected to create up to 7,500 jobs, the 616-acre Enterprise Zone will be designed to shape connections between people and the places they work, supporting a culture of innovation and wellbeing. It will include diverse, flexible workspaces and resilient technologies along with enhanced transport links to, and within, the surrounding area.

5G trial agreed to support operations at Bristol Port and Gravity Smart Campus

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The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has secured over £3m from the Government to test how the country can seize the full benefits of 5G and help businesses harness the power of modern technology.

WECA’s 5G Logistics project programme will develop 5G products and services to support operations at Bristol Port and Gravity Smart Campus. 

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has secured over £3m from the Government to test how the country can seize the full benefits of 5G and help businesses harness the power of modern technology.

WECA’s 5G Logistics project programme will develop 5G products and services to support operations at Bristol Port and Gravity Smart Campus and demonstrate a smart and dynamic port environment. The project will focus on security, traceability, and real-time tracking of goods within and across extendable virtual boundaries – and between public and private networks.

It will demonstrate how 5G private network capabilities can offer efficiency and productivity improvements to the logistics sector and more widely, allowing real-time location tracking of individual items, improvements to road traffic management and replacing low value, manually-intensive processes with 5G enabled autonomous systems. The project offers the potential for such advances in technology to be implemented industry-wide; including at other ports in the UK, Enterprise Zones or other business parks.

The Government has backed the project with £3m as part of its 5G Create competition – which supports innovators exploring new uses for 5G to help improve people’s lives and boost businesses.

West of England Mayor Tim Bowles said:

“5G has the potential to revolutionise whole industries and economies, creating exciting new jobs and opportunities. I want the West of England to be at the forefront of this revolution.

We have already led one successful trial and I’m thrilled that our plan to demonstrate how a smart and secure port could operate using the Internet of Things has been approved for funding by the Government. Backing innovation and the jobs of the future and bringing new investment to the region by securing a Freeport are key parts of our plan for economic recovery, so this is a big vote of confidence in the West of England.”

WECA is leading a consortium of partners on the £5.2m 5G Logistics project – one of nine projects to receive government funding – which includes companies ADVA Ltd, Airspan, AttoCore, Bristol Port, Cellnex UK, Gravity, Maritime, Unmanned Life, Bristol City Council, Bristol University and Cardiff University. 5G is the type of cutting-edge technical innovation that the West of England is looking to embrace with its forthcoming Freeport bid.

The Government wants technology to form part of its wider strategy for the border. It aims to establish resilient ‘ports of the future’ at border crossing points to make the experience smoother and more secure for travellers and traders, while better protecting the public and environment.

Technology can play an important role in making freeports as accessible as possible for traders. The Government consulted publicly on the UK’s future border strategy last summer, seeking views on how it can make the UK’s border the most effective in the world. The opportunities presented by a technology-enabled border was a major theme of the responses.

Matt Warman, Minister for Digital Infrastructure said:

“This trailblazing project – funded through our £200 million 5G trials programme – will explore how revolutionary new 5G connectivity could make our ports more efficient and secure as we attract major investment from across the globe post-Brexit. I look forward to seeing it in action.”

Steve West, Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, said:

“Testing new ways of delivering services and harnessing this new technology could hold the key to a more connected, more advanced and sustainable future for the West of England.

Super-fast and ultra-reliable 5G is expected to offer an increased level of connectivity and new opportunities for businesses, including better remote working, and is likely to bring significant business growth opportunities for our region’s tech sector.”

Watch Gravity’s ‘Delivering Clean Growth’ ICE’s SW webinar

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Gravity with our link road contractor, Alun Griffiths recently delivered a presentation to the Institute of Civil Engineering. The presentation highlighted how our partnership has enabled Gravity to deliver more sustainable growth while promoting innovation.

Programme Director, Paul Lowndes gave an overview of progress to date and outlined how 145,000 tonnes of site won material has been recycled and used to construct the link road.

Watch the webinar below

Gravity presents at ICE’s SW webinar

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Gravity and Alun Griffiths to present to the Institue of Civil Engineering

Gravity is proud to join our link road contractor, Alun Griffiths in a unique presentation to the Institute of Civil Engineering. The presentation will highlight how our partnership with Alun Griffiths enables Gravity to deliver more sustainable growth while promoting innovation.

Programme Director, Paul Lowndes will give an overview of progress to date and outline how some 145,000 tonnes of site won material has been recycled and used to construct the link road.

The webinar is free to watch, click here to book your spot.

Webainar Details

Wednesday 21st October

1pm-2pm

About Gravity

Gravity and Albion Water, working towards a low-carbon water management campus

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Gravity-Smart-Campus-Appoints-Albion-Water

This is Gravity ltd, the landowner of a 635-acre site at the Heart of the South West have appointed Albion Water as their Water Solutions Partner to help provide water, sewerage and drainage for their new Smart Campus in Somerset.

Gravity is set to be one of Europe’s largest smart campuses, underpinned by clean technology. Gravity’s design – informed through consultation with a team of economic analysts as well as sustainability and environmental specialists – responds to the shifting global trends in consumption, energy use, automation, and digitalisation, creating thousands of long-term jobs. Albion Water’s role as Water Solutions Partner will play a key part of this, as they ensure the provision of:

  • water management system that minimises waste and maximises the recycling of water
  • cost effective, efficient and innovative water solutions

This appointment combines the capabilities of Gravity and Albion Water to allow both entities to capitalise on the strong and accelerating demand for a low-carbon water future on campus, where water users can reduce consumption, recycle and manage water locally.  This will reduce energy usage and associated carbon emissions and ensures local rivers and streams retain more water.

This announcement comes off the back of Gravity’s recent appointment of JLL as commercial agents and their 50-year agreement to develop clean energy solutions with E.ON.

In 2019, the UK became the first major global economy to pledge to be net-zero by 2050 and alongside This is Gravity, E.ON, JLL and Albion Water are supporting the blueprint of how business users can make their net-zero commitments a reality.

Luke de Vial, Managing Director of Albion Water

“We are impressed with the quality of the Gravity team and their plans to make this ground-breaking Smart Campus a new low-carbon standard for industrial development. Through this engagement, we are confident that occupants at Gravity will reduce their environmental impact with a water management system that minimises waste and maximises the recycling of water.”

Paul Lowndes, Project Manager This is Gravity

“We are looking at ways to reduce the need for freshwater as well as be smart about how the occupants at Gravity will use water.  Saving on freshwater can not only significantly reduce our occupants’ carbon footprint, it will also result in a reduction in utilities bills.”

 

Notes to Editors:

About Gravity

www.thisisgravity.co.uk

A blueprint for a smarter, cleaner future – faster

Gravity, the UK’s first commercial smart campus, is the blueprint for a smarter, cleaner future – faster. It will deliver a new era of possibility by supporting companies making a difference socially, economically and environmentally, driving the UK’s shift to growing through a cleaner economy.

With direct access to the M5 and accessible by rail,air and sea, the site offers over 616 acres for the creation of millions of sq ft of scalable, flexible and shared working space.

Multinationals and start-ups will benefit from the excellent connectivity and speed of build out Gravity offers. By attracting today’s giants and tomorrow’s unicorns, there will be significant opportunities for collaboration.

With its onsite clean energy and water solutions, dark fibre, excellent transport links, local talent pool and knowledge economy, including four top-tier universities close by, Gravity provides occupiers with the ability to build, expand, and develop faster and efficiently.

About Albion Water

https://www.albionwater.co.uk/

About Albion Water

Albion Water provides cost effective, efficient and innovative water solutions for housing developments and industrial and commercial clients throughout England and Wales.

When Albion Water was licensed by the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) in 1999, it was as the first new entrant to compete against the monopoly water companies in England.

It has established an exemplary quality and environmental record, building a hard-won reputation as a water company prepared to innovate and to promote a better, more responsive water industry.

Legally, they have the same powers and responsibilities as any other water company in England and Wales. Where they differ is in their determination to provide a different level of service to our customers – water, waste water, drainage and wider environmental services, providing a sustainable offering with commercial and environmental benefits to all customers.

This is Gravity Ltd, instructs JLL on the UK’s smartest and cleanest new campus

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Gravity appoints JLL
  • Gravity, a 635 acre brownfield site in Somerset is set to become a blueprint for future smart and clean campuses
  • The campus aims to accelerate the UK’s clean growth agenda
  • JLL has been appointed to bring the world’s most innovative companies and the UK’s future unicorns to Gravity

LONDON 22 January 2020– This is Gravity ltd, the landowner of a 635-acre brownfield site in Bridgwater, South West England, has appointed JLL as sole agent for its smart campus (Gravity) in Somerset, which is currently under development.

This is Gravity ltd, the landowner of a 635-acre brownfield site in Bridgwater, South West England, has appointed JLL as sole agent for its smart campus, Gravity, which is currently under development.

Gravity will attract responsible and fast-growing companies associated with advanced manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, assembly and distribution space, R&D and offices. By attracting today’s giants and tomorrow’s unicorns, there will also be significant opportunities for collaboration.

The site is strategically located in the south-west of England, with direct access to Jn 23 of the M5, on-site freight and passenger rail terminals, proximity to Bristol international airport, and Bristol deep seaport.

With onsite clean energy solutions, resilient dark fibre, unrivalled transport links, accessible talent pool and knowledge economy, including four top-tier universities close by, Gravity’s flat site provides occupiers with the ability to build, expand, and develop faster and efficiently.

To enable Gravity to deliver its clean energy promise, it has signed a 50-year agreement with E.ON to provide bespoke renewable and low-carbon on-site energy solutions. These are anticipated to be on-site from autumn 2020 at the same time as completion of the link road direct to the M5 is expected.

Gravity will be a centre for clean growth, employment and the talent and technology of the future. The smart campus’s design – informed through consultation with a team of economic analysts, sustainability and environmental specialists – responds to the shifting global trends in consumption, energy use, automation and digitalization, creating thousands of long-term jobs.

Tom Curtis, Co-CEO, Gravity, said; “

At Gravity, we are committed to creating a connected and sustainable mixed-use smart campus which will attract some of the world’s most innovative and forward-thinking companies. Amongst many other attributes, JLL’s commitment to sustainability ensures that they are the perfect fit for this scheme. From start-up tech leaders of tomorrow to established multinationals and experts in advanced manufacturing, we believe that this site will deliver R&D as a result of knowledge sharing and harnessing the region’s talent from its leading universities and colleges. Underpinning this philosophy is a clear commitment to help drive the UK’s Clean Growth agenda.”

Chris Ireland, JLL’s UK CEO, said: “We look forward to working with This is Gravity ltd, to create their vision and attract leading businesses to the site. In Gravity we are partnering with someone who are also focused on what’s good for business and for a more sustainable future. JLL’s progressive approach means we’re integrating sustainability into all our advice in order to work with clients such as Gravity to maximise the benefits of a sustainable approach across the property sector.”

– ends –

For press enquiries, please contact:

Jamie Bullen, Blackstock Consulting, jamie@blackstock.co.uk, 07718158717
Billy Moran, Blackstock Consulting, billy@blackstock.co.uk

Notes to editors:

About This is Gravity ltd.

For further information, visit thisisgravity.co.uk

Gravity, the UK’s first commercial smart campus, is the blueprint for a smarter, cleaner future – faster. It will deliver a new era of possibility by supporting companies making a difference socially, economically and environmentally, driving the UK’s shift to growing through a cleaner economy.

With direct access to the M5 and accessible by rail, air and sea, the site offers over 616 acres for the creation of millions of sq ft of scalable, flexible and shared working space.

Multinationals and start-ups will benefit from the excellent connectivity and speed of build out Gravity offers. By attracting today’s giants and tomorrow’s unicorns, there will be significant opportunities for collaboration.

With its onsite clean energy solutions, dark fibre, excellent transport links, local talent pool and knowledge economy including four top-tier universities close by, Gravity provides occupiers with the ability to build, expand, and develop faster and efficiently.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. Our vision is to reimagine the world of real estate, creating rewarding opportunities and amazing spaces where people can achieve their ambitions. In doing so, we will build a better tomorrow for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.3 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of nearly 92,000 as of June 30, 2019. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.co.uk

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