New images of a research facility planned for Kingsway Business Park

New images have been revealed for a planned ‘research and development’ building on Kingsway Business Park.

The new multi-million pound hub would contain a research workshop with a 20 tonne crane; offices; labs; design studio; lecture theatres and a cafe. The 2,415sqm facility – dubbed the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) – would be sited next to the Kingsway Business Park tram stop.

If the plans are approved by Rochdale Council, it would form a key part of the Atom Valley project.

Atom Valley is one of six growth locations in Greater Manchester and includes significant parts of Bury, Oldham and Rochdale. It is a vast, dynamic area of 17 million sq. ft. flexible employment space with the potential to offer 20,000 new highly skilled roles within the technology and manufacturing sectors.
 

Atom Valley
Atom Valley is a Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) across Rochdale, Bury and Oldham. The zone is focused on three sites - the Northern Gateway (which straddles Bury and Rochdale near the M66 and M62), Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale, and Stakehill in Rochdale and Oldham. The sites have the potential to accommodate 1.6m sq m of new employment space, create around 20,000 jobs and deliver 7,000 new homes.

A new MDZ board has been set up to coordinate the project, chaired by leading economist Paul Ormerod, who was born and brought up in Rochdale and is also chair of Rochdale Development Agency, with representatives from local and national authorities, central government, and the private sector.

The ambition is to create a hub for innovation in advanced materials, manufacturing, and green technologies, with world-leading facilities and opportunities for local residents to access good jobs, training, and skills.

 

 

According to joint-applicants Wilson Bowden Developments, Rochdale Development Agency, Rochdale Borough Council, and Homes England – the SMMC project will be an inherent part of the development and commercialisation of smart intelligent machinery and advanced sustainable materials and Made Smarter technologies.

Planning papers read: “The building is split into roughly two halves. One side is a double height flexible open access workshop area, which is supported with a two-storey element arranged around an atrium with offices, meeting rooms, a café and other support spaces.

“The workshop provides space for mature companies to use defined bays for product development, and small start-up companies for company incubation. The workshop is provided with a 20 tonne crane which traverses the full length of the building, with a large roller shutter door access from the service yard.

“To the end of the workshop, two cellular spaces are provided for use by companies that require a certain level of security/confidentiality. The two-storey element of the building provides primarily office and meeting accommodation to support the workshop.

“Open plan and cellular spaces are provided to use on a flexible basis and to encourage mixing and collaboration between the occupants. A number of breakout spaces sit around the atrium on the first floor, offering views into the workshop.”

A total of 86 car parking spaces have been provided which includes 18 electric vehicle charging spaces and seven disabled spaces. Secure, covered cycle parking spaces are provided outside the entrance to the building.

A new hard-surfaced, drained and lit pedestrian path from the Metrolink tram stop to Michael Faraday Avenue will also be provided as part of the scheme, realigned from its current position.

Atom Valley Innovation group chair, Prof Richard Jones of University of Manchester, said: “The submission of planning for SMMC is an important milestone in the work of Greater Manchester to take an innovation-driven approach to transforming the city region. It will form a key part of Atom Valley and wider plans including ID Manchester, connecting companies with world class capabilities from the University of Manchester and others.”

It is hoped that the new centre will be completed by the summer of 2026. However, full planning permission will need to be sought before construction can begin.

When plans were announced earlier this month, Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Council said: “Atom Valley, located across the boroughs of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury, offers a once in a lifetime opportunity for truly transformational economic growth. We can offer the people living here better life chances, our young people better life chances and our businesses a great community in which to trade and work on a global basis.

“I am thrilled that the SMMC is making such great progress and look forward to seeing this visible example of our commitment to realise the vision for Atom Valley become a reality. It is planned that the centre will be complete in Summer 2026.”

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter