Still hoping for new battery plant in Northumberland despite fears after police raid on Britishvolt buyer
There is still hope for a new battery plant in Northumberland, despite fears over the weekend following a police raid on Britishvolt’s buyer.
Australian entrepreneur David Collard bailed out Britishvolt after the manufacturer went bankrupt earlier this year, saving hopes for a new factory near Blyth harbour.
But the offices of Collard’s investment fund, Scale Facilitation, were raided by the Australian Federal Police, who seized IT and communications equipment.
Deal: It was hoped the factory would revive electric vehicle adoption in Britain
Recharge Industries, the subsidiary of Scale Facilitation, has still not paid for the new factory.
It was hoped that the factory will revive the acceptance of electric vehicles in Britain. But sources close to Collard told the BBC Recharge hoped a deal would be reached for the £4 billion plant.
They said the company was optimistic it would get enough money to complete the purchase of land near Blyth within a month.
Australian police investigated concerns over taxation, while there were also concerns that Scale Facilitation office staff had not been paid.
But a Scale Facilitation spokesman denied any allegations, while BBC sources close to the company attributed the raid to a misunderstanding.