A major milestone has been reached for Atom Valley following completion of the base build of the Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale.
The 30,000 sq ft centre is the first major physical development within the Atom Valley Innovation District (AVID), a 25-acre hub designed to bring together businesses, researchers, investors and innovation partners working in advanced materials and manufacturing.
The development aims to strengthen Greater Manchester’s position as a leading centre for advanced manufacturing, providing businesses with the expertise, facilities and support needed to develop and commercialise new technologies.
Completion of the building marks the culmination of years of partnership working between Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), The University of Manchester and wider innovation partners.
Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) at Kingsway Business Park
RDA has led the physical development of the SMMC, working with partners to secure investment and establish advanced materials and manufacturing as a major growth opportunity for Rochdale and Greater Manchester.
The next phase will see work move from construction to specialist fit-out, ahead of the centre becoming operational in 2027.
The project builds on the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS), established in 2023 after RDA brought together partners from industry, academia and government.
Since then, businesses have been able to access a national network of specialist expertise, facilities and innovation support through CEAMS partners, including The University of Manchester, the Henry Royce Institute, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and NCC, formerly the National Composites Centre.
CEAMS has already supported more than 90 companies, helping them develop new products and processes.
The SMMC will provide a permanent physical gateway to the UK’s advanced materials and manufacturing network, giving businesses access to specialist facilities, expertise and innovation support to help turn ideas into commercially viable products.
The development has received £15.2m from the UK Government’s Towns Fund and £5.8m from the Greater Manchester Investment Zone.
The wider innovation district has also received a further boost through £16.4m from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF).
The flagship government programme, delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is investing £500m to strengthen regional innovation economies across the country.
The University of Manchester is the lead delivery partner for the programme, working alongside RDA and the CEAMS consortium of national innovation partners to develop the innovation ecosystem around the SMMC.
Independent analysis forecasts that the centre will generate £107m in economic value over the next decade, delivering a 2:1 return on public investment.
It is also expected to attract new businesses, inward investment and high-value jobs to Atom Valley.
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.”