Plans for Britain's first electric car battery gigafactory are back on track after an Australian company completed its takeover of the collapsed start-up Britishvolt.

Recharge Industries aims to push ahead with plans to build the UK's first gigafactory to create power for the electric car industry, creating thousands of jobs.

Britishvolt had aimed to construct a £3.8bn plant near Blythe, Northumberland, before it collapsed at the start of this year.

Its new owner is already behind plans for such a site in Geelong, Australia, and said it is confident of making the UK site a success and "growing it into an advanced green energy project".

David A. Collard, founder and chief executive of Geelon-based Scale Facilitation, which owns Recharge Industries, said: “Our proposal combined our financial, commercial, technology and manufacturing capabilities, with a highly credible plan to put boots and equipment on the ground quickly."  

He added: "The North East of England has a real depth of history and talent in manufacturing and engineering. I recently spent time in the area to get to know the people and the site, and I was struck by the similarities to our Recharge Industries site in Geelong, Australia.  

"I was really taken by the passion and pride that the people have for the region and their determination to get behind a project that can drive lasting change. We have the right plan in place, to match and support the region's energy and ambition to become a major player in the international battery market."

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