Rolls-Royce becomes first occupier at 11 York Street 

The company’s nuclear technology division has taken 10,000 sq ft within Aviva’s 80,000 sq ft building in Manchester. 

Rolls-Royce SMR’s new head office at 11 York Street is the company’s third and sees the firm return to the city where it was founded more than 100 years ago. 

The firm’s other offices are in Derby and Birchwood Park in Warrington. 

Rolls-Royce SMR is working on a government-backed project to deploy a fleet of small modular reactors across the country. The technology will allow the creation of clean energy. 

The company plans to recruit 850 people to work on the project by the end of the year. 

“Rolls-Royce SMR is coming back to Manchester, where Charles Rolls and Henry Royce first met in 1904,” said Tom Samson, Rolls-Royce SMR’s chief executive. 

“We’re growing as a company and, as we move at pace to build our SMR power stations in the UK, the time is right to set up our head office in this fantastic city. 

“As the UK’s domestic nuclear energy champion, we will play a vital role in providing clean, reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity for generations to come.” 

Business and Energy Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, added: “I am excited to see Rolls-Royce returning to its spiritual home of Manchester to expand on its vital and innovative work developing small modular reactors, designed and manufactured in Britain. 

“Backed by £210m of government funding last year, Rolls-Royce’s small modular reactors have the potential to be a key part of boosting the UK’s nuclear power capacity up to 24GW by 2050, as we turbocharge plans to generate more clean, affordable, home-grown power in the UK, for the UK.” 

Designed by AHR Architects, 11 York Street completed last year.