The founders of Britishvolt were trying to create a £4bn facility, from scratch, without the backing of a major manufacturer.
What they did have was a vision which they hoped could surf a wave of political support – and attract the necessary funding.
They looked first for a location in Wales, before settling on Cambois, in the Blyth Valley.
The site, formerly a power station, was good. It had a deep water port, good transport links and access to plentiful power. It also happened to be in a “red wall” constituency captured by the Conservatives in 2019.
But political support wasn’t enough. Delays to construction meant £100m of public funding never materialised. With costs rising and no firm orders, the money ran out.
The question is, what happens next? Speak to pretty much anyone in the motor industry, and they’ll tell you that without gigafactories, the long-term future for UK manufacturing looks bleak.
So the plant itself could still become a reality. But for that to happen significant investment will be needed.
And any potential buyer will know that their chances of success will be much greater if they can get an established manufacturer on board.
ANALYSIS BY JOE WELLS.
Another complete cock up by British industry, why oh why are we so useless when we try to manufacture anything in this country it just doesn’t make sense when we have such a proud tradition of manufacturing, after all it was us who invented the Industrial Revolution.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel and his compatriots must be turning in their graves.
I am a retired actor, although to be honest I only retired because I wasn't getting any work due to losing my agent when I became a full time carer to my mother who had dementia. and the option of becoming an unemployed actor/waiter at my age was ludicrous, especially as my waiting skills are non-existent.
Having said I’m retired, I don’t think there really is such a thing as a retired actor for I am still available for work, I just don’t have an agent or any connections with regards to obtaining any worthwhile work.
I have over the years done student films when there is nothing else available, always low paid (if at all) the only incentive was always the promised copy of the finished film for your show reel which nine times out of ten always failed to materialise.
I spent many years looking after my aged mother and shortly after her death I was lucky enough to run into an ex-girlfriend of many years ago and our romance blossomed once again, resulting in us getting married in 2013.
My move to the countryside inspired me to write The Diary of a Country Bumpkin which tells of my continuing dilemmas in dealing with the rigors of the countryside from the unexpectedly large number of pollens, fungal moulds and hay products waiting to attack the unsuspecting townie.
I enjoy writing, see my play Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori on The Wireless Theatre Company, The Plays Wot I Wrote and The Battle of Barking Creek both available on Amazon.co.uk and am very fond of classic cars so my ideal occupation would be acting in a film I had written set in the 1930s/40s, we live in hopes.
I am delighted to say that since venturing to the countryside where space is not quite the premium it is in town, I have due to the availability of two double garages acquired more classic cars to form a small collection the pride of which are a 1947 Bentley Mk VI and a 2000 Bentley Arnage.
My various blogs and websites are continually evolving and I’m sure that by following the appropriate links you will find something which will edify or amuse.
I have written a number of different books all available on Amazon, so don't be shy should you feel the urge to purchase. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-Joe-Wells/e/B06XKWFQHT/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
The government should have released the public funding early to allow the project to go ahead. Now we will, no doubt, end up purchasing batteries and battery making technologies from other countries, at a vastly increased cost, and will give away numerous concessions to ensure that we are covered in future. How very sad, and what complete nincompoops we are!
They had to comply with certain conditions before the Government would release the money, in the meantime Nissan have announced they are building a massive battery factory next to their Sunderland plant in partnership with Envision AESC which is sadly a Chinese company! Oh dear!
I have to wonder what on earth makes anyone think becoming an MP is a fun way of earning a living. If you think back it’s similar to the 70’s when we pumped millions into the car industry which was a great idea to keep it going but what it really needed was a change of work practices and even more money. It worked with the foreign take over of Rolls-Royce and Bentley, they have gone from strength to strength.
The Diary of a Country Bumpkin 
The government should have released the public funding early to allow the project to go ahead. Now we will, no doubt, end up purchasing batteries and battery making technologies from other countries, at a vastly increased cost, and will give away numerous concessions to ensure that we are covered in future. How very sad, and what complete nincompoops we are!
They had to comply with certain conditions before the Government would release the money, in the meantime Nissan have announced they are building a massive battery factory next to their Sunderland plant in partnership with Envision AESC which is sadly a Chinese company! Oh dear!
One rule for BRITISHVOLT, another for Crossrail!
I have to wonder what on earth makes anyone think becoming an MP is a fun way of earning a living. If you think back it’s similar to the 70’s when we pumped millions into the car industry which was a great idea to keep it going but what it really needed was a change of work practices and even more money. It worked with the foreign take over of Rolls-Royce and Bentley, they have gone from strength to strength.