Rochdale Advanced Manufacturing Centre Reaches Key Milestone 2026

Key Points

• The sustainable materials and manufacturing centre (SMMC) base build has been completed at the Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale.
• The 30,000 sq ft facility is the first ever major physical development within the 25-acre Atom Valley Innovation District (AVID).
• The project will now be moving into the specialist fit out phase with the centre being operational in 2027.
• The aim of the SMMC project is to provide access to specialist spaces, laboratories, workshops, expertise and innovation support to the businesses.
• It will help connect the firms with the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) which include The University of Manchester, the Henry Royce Institute, the National Physical Laboratory, CPI and NCC.
• The funding for the construction includes £15.2 million from the UK Government’s Towns Fund, £15 million from the Good Growth Fund of Greater Manchester Combined Authority and £10 million from the Greater Manchester Investment Zone.
• The second phase of the innovation district has been awarded £16.4 million from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund that is being provided through UK Research and Innovation with GMCA and Innovation Greater Manchester.

Rochdale (Manchester Mirror) October 15, 2026 — The base build of Rochdale’s Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) has been completed at Kingsway Business Park, marking the first major physical development within the Atom Valley Innovation District.

As reported by Premier Construction News, the completion of the base build is described as a major milestone for Atom Valley, the advanced materials and manufacturing initiative being developed in Rochdale. The 30,000 sq ft building is intended to act as a physical gateway to the UK’s advanced materials and manufacturing network.

The SMMC sits within the 25-acre Atom Valley Innovation District, which is designed to bring together businesses, researchers, investors and innovation partners in one location. According to the University of Manchester, the district is intended to provide an environment where organisations can innovate, grow and commercialise new technologies, while strengthening Greater Manchester’s position in advanced materials and manufacturing.

The building’s completion does not mean the facility is ready to open. The next stage will involve specialist fit-out, including the installation of equipment and facilities needed for advanced materials research, testing and product development. The centre is expected to become operational in 2027.

Why is the SMMC important for advanced manufacturing?

The SMMC is designed to help businesses and researchers move new materials and manufacturing processes from early concepts towards commercially viable products. It will offer specialist space, facilities, technical expertise and access to innovation support through CEAMS.

As reported by BBC News’ Richard Stead, scientists developing materials for use in medicine, electronics and construction will be able to test them at the Rochdale facility. Professor John Holden, vice-president for civic engagement and innovation at the University of Manchester, told the BBC that the centre would help scientists use newly invented materials in businesses. He said researchers would be able to test how strong a material is, how it conducts electricity and how it performs in real-world outdoor conditions.

The centre will also connect users with the CEAMS national network. CEAMS was established in 2023 by Rochdale Development Agency with partners from industry, academia and government. Its partners include The University of Manchester, the Henry Royce Institute, the National Physical Laboratory, CPI and NCC.

According to the University of Manchester, CEAMS has already supported more than 90 companies in developing new products and processes. The SMMC is intended to build on that work by providing a permanent base where firms can access research strengths, facilities and specialist support.

How much has been invested in the Rochdale centre?

The SMMC building has received public funding from three main sources. The University of Manchester states that the development received £15.2 million from the UK Government’s Towns Fund, £15 million from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Good Growth Fund and £10 million from the Greater Manchester Investment Zone.

The wider next phase of the Atom Valley Innovation District has also received £16.4 million from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund. This programme is delivered through UK Research and Innovation in partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Innovation Greater Manchester. According to the University of Manchester, the fund is investing £500 million to strengthen regional innovation economies across the country.

Place North West reported that the SMMC is a £37 million scheme and identified Glencar as the main contractor. The publication reported that the project had reached practical completion and would now move into specialist fit-out, with an opening planned for 2027.

The funding and delivery arrangements reflect a partnership between Rochdale Development Agency, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, The University of Manchester and wider innovation partners. Rochdale Development Agency has led the physical development of the SMMC and worked with partners to secure investment for the project.

What economic impact is forecast for Rochdale?

Independent analysis cited by the University of Manchester forecasts that the SMMC will generate £107 million of economic value over ten years. The same analysis forecasts a 2:1 return on public investment, alongside new business attraction, inward investment and high-value employment in Atom Valley.

BBC News also reported the £107 million forecast, stating that the centre is expected to contribute that amount to the regional economy once fully operational.

The University of Manchester says its role as lead delivery partner is to develop the innovation ecosystem around the SMMC. Professor John Holden said the university would connect research strengths with businesses and national partners to help ideas develop, scale and reach the market, while attracting more than £60 million in private-sector investment.

The wider Atom Valley programme is intended to support advanced manufacturing growth across Rochdale, Oldham and Bury. BBC News reported that the district is hoped to lead to the creation of thousands of jobs on land close to the M62.

What have local leaders said about the development?

Councillor Daniel Meredith, portfolio holder for regeneration and housing at Rochdale Borough Council, said the completion of the SMMC was “fantastic news” for Rochdale residents. He said the facility would help create employment opportunities, support high-value skills and allow local people to benefit from advances in modern manufacturing and materials science.

Councillor Meredith added that Rochdale had worked to position itself at the forefront of innovation and advanced manufacturing, describing the SMMC as an example of that ambition becoming reality. He said the investment was intended to create opportunities for local businesses, attract new employers and build a stronger economy.

Julie Murphy, chief executive of Rochdale Council, told BBC News that the wider vision was for advanced manufacturing businesses to be established on vacant land around the SMMC, creating an innovation district around the building. She also said the project aimed to give talented children in local schools the aspiration to attend leading universities and then return to work in Rochdale.

Paul Ormerod, chair of the Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone, told the BBC that the aim was to develop a cluster of advanced manufacturing companies and create high-paid jobs. He described Atom Valley as a project to revive the economies of Oldham, Rochdale and Bury so those areas could share in the prosperity of places such as Manchester and Salford.

What role will the University of Manchester play?

The University of Manchester is the lead delivery partner for the innovation programme connected to the SMMC. It will work with Rochdale Development Agency and the CEAMS consortium to activate the ecosystem around the centre.

Professor John Holden said completing the base build was a major achievement and reflected the partnership that had brought the project to this stage. He said the next opportunity was to bring the physical investment to life by bringing together businesses, research, expertise and innovation to create lasting value for Rochdale, Greater Manchester and the UK.

The university’s involvement is significant because of its research background in advanced materials. BBC News noted that graphene, often described as a “wonder material”, was discovered at the University of Manchester in 2004. The broadcaster reported that graphene’s wider development had been held back by the cost of producing it in large quantities.

The SMMC is expected to provide a route for research discoveries to be tested and developed in a business setting. Its facilities are intended to support work on material strength, electrical conductivity, durability and other properties relevant to commercial applications.

What happens next at Atom Valley?

The immediate next stage is specialist fit-out of the completed building. This will prepare the SMMC for operation in 2027, with laboratory space, workshops and other facilities expected to support advanced materials and manufacturing work.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority previously said the centre would include 30,000 sq ft of laboratory space, workshops and design studios, as well as a lecture theatre, meeting rooms, office space and flexible workspace for start-ups.

The wider Atom Valley Innovation District is expected to develop around the SMMC. Project partners say the district is designed to attract businesses, researchers, investors and innovation partners, creating a concentrated advanced materials and manufacturing cluster.

There are also longer-term transport plans connected to Atom Valley. BBC News reported that the project could be underpinned by a new tram-train line connecting Bury, Heywood, Rochdale and Oldham.

Background of the development

Atom Valley is one of Greater Manchester’s Mayoral Development Zones, areas where devolved powers can be used to encourage private-sector investment. The programme covers land close to the M62 in Oldham, Rochdale and Bury and is intended to support advanced manufacturing, innovation and job creation.

The SMMC is the first major physical development within the Atom Valley Innovation District. Rochdale Development Agency brought together partners from industry, academia and government to establish CEAMS in 2023, creating a network intended to connect businesses with specialist expertise, facilities and innovation support.

The project has been developed through collaboration between Rochdale Development Agency, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, The University of Manchester and other innovation partners. Its construction milestone follows years of partnership working and public investment aimed at positioning Rochdale and Greater Manchester as centres for advanced materials and manufacturing.

Prediction: What could this mean for Rochdale residents and businesses?

For local businesses, the SMMC could provide practical access to specialist testing, research expertise and innovation networks that may otherwise be difficult to reach. Manufacturers working with new materials, sustainable processes or emerging technologies may be able to use the centre to develop and validate products before bringing them to market.

For Rochdale residents, the development could create employment opportunities in advanced manufacturing, research support, technical services and related supply-chain roles. Local leaders have said the aim is to generate high-value jobs and help residents benefit from growth in modern manufacturing and materials science.

For the wider Atom Valley area, the completed base build may encourage further investment around Kingsway Business Park. The project’s partners expect the SMMC to act as a focal point for a broader innovation district, although the scale and timing of future business arrivals will depend on subsequent investment, occupation and the success of the centre once operational in 2027.