Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed plans to build a new electric battery 'giga-factory' within a short commute from Shepton at the Gravity Smart Campus near Bridgwater.

Tata Group, the parent company of Jaguar Land Rover, is set to invest over £4 billion into the scheme, aiming to create a new hub of electric mobility and renewable storage solutions for the UK and Europe.

The factory is expected to generate thousands of new employment opportunities in Somerset.

N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said: "I am delighted to announce the Tata Group will be setting up one of Europe's largest battery cell manufacturing facilities in the UK. Our multi-billion-pound investment will bring state-of-the-art technology to the country, helping to power the automotive sector's transition to electric mobility, anchored by our own business, JLR.

"With this strategic investment, the Tata Group further strengthens its commitment to the UK, alongside our many companies operating here across technology, consumer, hospitality, steel, chemicals, and automotive.

"I also want to thank His Majesty's Government, which has worked so closely with us to enable this investment."

The location for the gigafactory, the Gravity business park near the M5 motorway near Bridgwater, is less than an hour's commute from Shepton. This raises the potential for an influx of job opportunities, and broader economic stimulation for the region.

There is also the scope for an increase in local business activity and potential growth in the property market due to an enlarged workforce.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, described Tata Group's decision as a "huge vote of confidence in Britain," emphasising the prospect of creating "thousands of skilled jobs for Britons around the country."

But already, some are urging caution.

Quentin Willson, founder of campaign group FairCharge, said: "While this is a very significant development for UK battery manufacturing, I truly hope that other companies in the battery, critical minerals, charging and EV supply chains won't be neglected.

"The Government should see this subsidy as the beginning of building a battery ecosystem in this country.

"There is a genuine fear in the industry that it could sweep up all available government support, which would be hugely detrimental to the future health of the UK in the race to zero.

"We have some world class battery and EV talent and we must support them as much as we can to prevent this valuable resource of innovators moving to other more receptive markets."

Greenpeace UK's senior climate campaigner, Paul Morozzo, said: "This is a significant moment for the UK car industry and a signal that the Government has finally started the engine in the international clean technology race, while others are speeding ahead.

"But the Government must stick to its laudable commitment to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030, sign off on the regulations to deliver it, and ignore attempts by siren voices to derail the EV transition.

"Failing to do so would mean waving goodbye to any meaningful electric vehicle manufacturing sector in the UK, regardless of this new gigafactory, which would put domestic car manufacturing as a whole in jeopardy."