Government support for a North East electric battery plant will “still be on the table” to aid the UK’s creation of a crucial EV ecosystem, the chair of the National Infrastructure Commission says.
Britishvolt collapsed into administration on Tuesday, taking with it the startup’s grand ambitions to build a £3.8bn battery plant in Blyth, Northumberland. There are hopes another company could bring the scheme to reality, and interested parties are now circling the prime site in Cambois, with two unidentified firms having already spoken to leaders at Northumberland County Council.
The failure of Britishvolt has led to scrutiny and criticism of the UK’s electric vehicle strategy, with industry leaders including Inobat boss Andy Palmer describing it as an “unmitigated disaster”. But Sir John Armitt, chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, which provides advice to the Government on infrastructure to help shape and develop the national infrastructure assessment, believes the North East plan can be resurrected.
