Alongside Turner & Townsend, Wates was named as the preferred team to deliver Envision AESC’s second gigafactory in Sunderland in December last year.
The project is being delivered through a partnership with Sunderland City Council and Nissan UK, and will see a plant built to deliver enough batteries to power 100,000 electric vehicles annually.
“This gigafactory represents the future of green, automotive manufacturing - not only in the North East, but nationally - and like all our projects, we’re committed to building it sustainably and for the long-term benefit of the region,” said Wates chairman, Sir James Wates.
“As work begins on Envision AESC’s landmark new gigafactory, part of the wider £1bn EV Hub with Nissan EV36Zero, we are accelerating our journey towards a greener, more sustainable future,” added Sunderland City Council leader, Graeme Miller.