Work to start on Samlesbury advanced manufacturing centre

Construction of the 50,000 sq ft Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre within Samlesbury Aerospace Enterprise Zone is set to begin following planning consent.

Planners at South Ribble Council and Ribble Valley Council have granted permission to the University of Sheffield’s £20m AMRC facility, which will have a focus on vehicle electrification, robotics, battery assembly and lightweighting technologies.

The facility is backed by £20m capital funding from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s Growth Deal.

In addition, a £2.5m revenue grant from the European Structural Investment Fund matched with £1.6m from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, will fund the creation of a technical R&D team.

James Hughes, research director at the University of Sheffield AMRC North West, said: “Work can now begin on an applied research facility that will equal the best in the world, consolidating the reputation of Lancashire and the wider Northern Powerhouse as the go-to-place for innovation expertise and skills in advanced manufacturing.”

Melissa Conlon, commercial director for University of Sheffield AMRC North West, said: “Our mission is to ensure that Lancashire and the North becomes the engine room of the fourth industrial revolution, harnessing the latest digital technologies, from robotics and automation to artificial intelligence and augmented reality, to support the transition to a low carbon economy, accelerate the move to transport electrification, drive up productivity, improve the competitiveness of indigenous industries and make the region a magnet for global manufacturing brands to invest.”