Green light for £43m advanced manufacturing centre

Dubbed Factory 2050, the facility will work on areas including robotics, flexible automation, 3D printing from flexible automated systems, man-machine interfaces and new programming and training tools. The state of the art development will be built at the University of Sheffield. The aim is to enhance the reputation of the region as a world class force in engineering expertise, and build on the success of the university's investment in the original Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park on the other side of the Parkway, at Waverley. Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts, said: "Over the last decade we've seen the enormous impact of the University's active involvement in advanced manufacturing, creating high quality jobs and hundreds of new opportunities for apprenticeships, as well as attracting some of the world's best known aerospace and engineering companies to work and invest here. "The planning approval represents a real step forward in moving this vital activity to the next level, and giving the city region the opportunity to further its reputation as a leading force in advanced manufacturing, not just at UK level, but on the global stage. The application now requires final approval by the Secretary of State for Communities and local government. The hope is that construction of the 'factory of the future' will be able to commence later this year.