The last remnants of Sheffield City Airport would be swept away if the city’s university is granted permission to build a second advanced manufacturing campus on the site.
Flying ended at the airport in 2008 and part of the site now houses Sheffield Business Park, one of the largest in Yorkshire. Another University of Sheffield project on the former airfield is already underway with the construction of the £43m Factory 2050, described as the UK’s first fully reconfigurable manufacturing facility.
The latest university proposal — dubbed Advanced Manufacturing Research Campus Two (AMRC2) — is for 1.3m sq ft of buildings that would contain a £30m National Material Institute, a £20m Fast Make Centre of Excellence and a £30m Energy 2050 development “to help make energy more affordable, secure and sustainable”.
Under the plans currently being considered by the city council, more than 1,880 jobs would be generated by the scheme which, it is claimed, would pump at least £74m into the local economy.
In its written submission, drawn up by Bond Bryan architects, the university says: “The development at Sheffield Business Park of the AMRC Campus 2 has already attracted significant interest from partner organisations nationally and internationally … The university anticipates that this interest will, just as with Rolls-Royce, develop into significant investments for manufacturing, employment, and gross value added to the local, regional and national economy.
“The global renown of the University’s AMRC activities indicates the potential for AMRC2 Campus to be a prestigious development which contributes to civic pride and most importantly significant investment in manufacturing,” it adds.
Broken down the AMRC2 development will comprise about 860,000 sq ft of advanced manufacturing and research space, 468,000 sq ft for a residential training centre and conference facilities, and 16,000 sq ft for outdoor and indoor recreation.
The original university-backed AMRC has already attracted more than 40 companies including Rolls-Royce and Boeing. Both developments are set to become the nucleus of an Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, claimed to be Europe’s largest research-led cluster of businesses and science research facilities.
Once an open cast mine the site, which straddles Sheffield’s Parkway, was reclaimed and turned into an airport under a 1960s master plan for the area. “This latest application should be fully supported in the interests of local, regional and national growth,” urged Graham Sadler, managing director of Sheffield Business Park.
“The AMRC2 will be at the centre of the emerging Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, supported by public and private partners which together with other sites will put Sheffield on the global map for advanced manufacturing, research and development and business growth,” he added. “This will help attract original equipment manufacturing companies and their supply chain to the city region.
“We need to get ahead of the game in advanced manufacturing. If we do not, others will and it will be an opportunity lost. There is national and international competition for the same market and we have a one-off opportunity to compete at the global level.”
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