Work has been completed on a major manufacturing hub in Rochdale that is expected to drive investment and job creation in the north of Greater Manchester. The Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) now stands at Kingsway Business Park, serving as a catalyst for growth in advanced manufacturing, machinery, materials and scientific research.
Key milestone in Atom Valley project
The 30,000 sq ft SMMC is the first major physical development within the Atom Valley Innovation District (AVID), a 25-acre hub for advanced materials and manufacturing in Rochdale. It brings together businesses, researchers, investors and innovation partners in one location. Atom Valley is one of six growth locations in Greater Manchester, covering parts of Bury, Oldham and Rochdale, with 17m sq ft of employment space and the potential to offer 20,000 'highly skilled' roles in technology and manufacturing.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham put spades in the ground on the project in November last year. In his role as Greater Manchester mayor at the time, he declared it the start of a 'new decade of growth' in the city-region.
Next phase and funding
The next phase will see the building fitted out ahead of bringing the centre into operation next year. Once specialist equipment is installed, research projects, businesses and manufacturers can start to fill the space inside. The completion of construction is seen as a 'major milestone' by joint-development partners Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), The University of Manchester and wider innovation partners.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, said: “Atom Valley is an exciting opportunity and key to our plans to bring good growth to every postcode in Greater Manchester. The completion of the SMMC building is a major milestone for what will become a nationally significant hub for innovation.”
“We’re providing space for businesses and connecting them with investment, world-class research, facilities and support within the wider Atom Valley Innovation District. In practice, that means more opportunities for our businesses to grow, attracting new investment to this part of Greater Manchester, and more high-value jobs for our residents.”
Funding and economic impact
The development of the SMMC building has received £15.2m from the UK Government’s Towns Fund and £5.8m from the Greater Manchester Investment Zone. The next phase for the innovation district has received a further boost through £16.4m from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), a UK government programme delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), investing £500m to strengthen regional innovation economies.
The hub is expected to generate £107m of economic value over 10 years when brought into operation. Councillor Daniel Meredith, portfolio holder for regeneration and housing at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The building completion of the Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing Centre is fantastic news for Rochdale residents.”
“This landmark facility will help create new employment opportunities, support the development of high-value skills and ensure local people can benefit from some of the most exciting advances in modern manufacturing and materials science. We’ve worked hard to position Rochdale at the forefront of innovation and advanced manufacturing, and the SMMC is a clear example of that ambition becoming reality. It’s a major investment in our future, creating opportunities for local businesses, attracting new employers and helping to build a stronger economy for generations to come.”
