After considerable uncertainty, plans for a £3.8 billion electric vehicle (EV) battery factory in Northumberland have been abandoned, marking a significant shift in industrial strategy for the region.
Initially proposed by Britishvolt, the gigafactory in Blyth was set to create 3,000 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs, bolstering the local economy and advancing the government's 'levelling up' agenda. However, the project fell through early last year due to financial difficulties, resulting in over 200 job losses. In a pivot from manufacturing, Northumberland County Council is now exploring the potential of developing the site into a computer data centre. This new direction represents a transformative approach to utilising the space, potentially offering new opportunities for the area.
