Plans for multi-million pound 3D printing facility
MANCHESTER Metropolitan University and Cheshire’s Tatton Estate are collaborating to create a multi-million pound 3D printing facility near Manchester Airport.
The estate and the university are to unveil plans at MIPIM, the property and investment event taking place in Cannes this week.
The two parties are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding at an tomorrow to jointly create the Cheshire 3D Print Hub (C3D) to boost the Liverpool-Manchester science corridor.
It is anticipated that C3D will deliver an initial £6m investment in the north west, located on the Tatton Estate’s Yarwood Heath Farm, part of its Cheshire Gateway scheme.
It will comprise of 40,000 sq ft of existing buildings and provide an incubation space for emerging industrial digital technology start-ups in the region.
Tatton Estate, the largest private landowner in Cheshire East and represented by the Tatton Group, is driving investment opportunities.
Henry Brooks, Tatton Group managing director, said: “C3D is a very exciting prospect, regionally, nationally and internationally. It will help contribute to the global imperative for the UK and the north west to increase manufacturing, to create wealth, jobs and social cohesion.
“It will also become an integral part of Cheshire’s international corridor of science and innovation which has some of the most significant science-based assets in the north of England, some of which are of global importance.
“Sitting at the geographical heart of the UK, Cheshire Gateway already boasts fantastic connectivity to all major cities via train, which will be yet further fed by the HS2 hub stations at Crewe and Manchester Airport, where it is expected to connect to Northern Powerhouse rail, connecting C3D to the global community.” Tatton Estate will support other science and technology businesses to occupy parts of the Yarwood Heath Farm site to foster industry collaboration and support jobs and growth within the local economy.
Professor Craig Banks from Manchester Metropolitan University added: “The long-term ambition of the project is to create an open and inclusive science and technology hub.
“It will enhance our research and innovation infrastructure and capacities to develop excellence and promote business investment, including for SMEs.
“The collaboration between Tatton Estate and Manchester Met will also form academic partnerships, using research knowledge to drive commercial growth.”