Home ›

£25 million nuclear facility gets the go ahead

in

Business secretary Lord Mandelson has announced that there will be a new £25 million Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) built in South Yorkshire and led by the University of Sheffield.

The new centre will be based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park. Funding for the project comprises £15million from the Department of Business, Industry and Skills and £10m from the regional development agency - Yorkshire Forward.

Speaking at the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Mandelson also announced Rolls-Royce's intention in principle to base their civil nuclear factory in South Yorkshire. This factory is part of an investment programme that Rolls-Royce announced on 28 July 2009, which included £45m of investment from the Government.

Mandelson also told crowds that there will be a Nuclear Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) for both Yorkshire and the North West, led by both regional development agencies.

UK companies have the potential to provide up to 70 per cent of the work on construction of components for new nuclear power plants, and the LCEA will support the development of UK capability to win this business.

Mandelson said: "We know that we have to make the transition to a low carbon future, and the Government is determined to ensure that British businesses get the support they need to seize the business opportunities that transition creates. The civil nuclear sector is one of the key low carbon industries where the UK has the potential for job creation, economic growth and engineering and manufacturing excellence. Today´s announcement is about investing in our future. A greener, smarter, more skilled, more balanced British economy."

The NAMRC will be led by the University of Sheffield with Rolls-Royce, supported by the University of Manchester. It is expected to draw together some 30 partner high-tech manufacturing suppliers who are committed to meeting UK demand and playing a significant part in global markets through the production of high-value, low-volume systems and components in a competitive manner. The goal is to re-develop and re-energise an internationally recognised UK supply chain, with globally relevant and competitive capabilities. Support for training, simulation and modelling will be provided by the National Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC).