Big news in Rochdale after work started on building the new Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) in Atom Valley.

The building is the first major development in Atom Valley and has the potential to create up to 20,000 new jobs in the region.

The ground-breaking ceremony was led  by GM Mayor Andy Burnham, who said: “Today is a great day for Greater Manchester.”

The SMMC will help scale up businesses and act as a springboard for them to pioneer new technology, offering lab space, workshops and flexible workspace.

It will also provide an important link between Atom Valley and the Oxford Road Corridor, in Manchester.