Manufacturing campus ‘to be home to 1,880 jobs’
UP TO 1,880 jobs could be created in Rotherham if the masterplan for a new advanced manufacturing campus is approved.
The University of Sheffield acquired the 50-acre site on the Advanced Manufacturing Park last year as it looked to build on the success of its partnership with Boeing at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).
This latest phase is for development totalling 1.3m sq ft on the former Sheffield Airport site through the creation of the AMRC2 Campus.
860,000 sq ft will be allocated for advanced manufacturing and research, 670,000 sq ft for a conference and training centre.
When complete it could be home to up to 1,880 jobs and is forecast to contribute up to £74m a year to the regional economy.
The plans for an advanced manufacturing innovation district on the Sheffield-Rotherham boundary is already providing a boost for the city region’s commercial property market.
Property consultants Knight Frank has seen an increased interest from manufacturers wanting to relocate to the University of Sheffield’s Factory 2050 at Sheffield Business Park and the Advanced Manufacturing Park.
The advanced manufacturing district is led by a consortium of the region’s universities and businesses, revolving around the AMP.
Industrial property firm Knight Frank has said that this renewed interest could bolster the property market in the Sheffield-Rotherham corridor as supply chain firms cluster around manufacturing hubs .
Rebecca Schofield, partner at the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, said: “The promotion of an advanced manufacturing innovation district is an exciting prospect for the continued commercial property evolution along the Sheffield-Rotherham corridor, but has much wider implications for the Sheffield City Region as the location becomes renowned for its advanced manufacturing opportunities.
“We are already seeing increased clustering of manufacturing businesses and renewed enquiries from suppliers associated with advanced manufacturing, looking to locate within the Sheffield City Region.
“There is a noticeable hotspot at Sheffield Business Park, where phase two of the site, adjacent to Factory 2050 extends to 50 acres and is offered on a build to suit basis.
“As the region’s status for excellence in manufacture increases, we can safely anticipate increased investment to accommodate demand, which will significantly strengthen the South Yorkshire market.”
Graham Sadler, managing director of Sheffield Business Parks, said: “The University of Sheffield’s decision to locate Factory 2050 will play a key role in attracting other advanced manufacturing and research facilities to Sheffield Business Park. Factory 2050 is already under construction and is scheduled for completion in the autumn of 2015.
“With further projects in the pipeline Sheffield Business Park together with AMP is set to become the nucleus of the UK’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District.”
TheBusinessDesk.com, in partnership with law firm Squire Patton Boggs, is currently seeking the views of manufacturers from across Yorkshire as part of a project looking at the future of manufacturing.
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