The business park is part of the UK's Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID). It is already home to Boeing Sheffield, energy tech firm ITM Power and the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Campus.
Sheffield Business Park (SBP) have sent their 18-acre Phase 4 enlargement proposals to Rotherham Council for consent.
If the proposals are granted, the business park is expected to add another 1,000 jobs, increasing the numbers of people who work in the office park by 50%.
Phase 4 of SBP’s development will look to transform land between Europa Link and the A630 dual carriageway in Rotherham and encompasses buildings ranging from just under 11,000 sqft to 108,000 sqft in size. The buildings will be used for multiple purposes including research and development, industrial, storage and distribution.
SBP managing director Graham Sadler commented: “Geographically located at the centre of the UK, Sheffield City Region has been at the heart of manufacturing and engineering innovation since the Industrial Revolution and is now renowned for its lead on advanced manufacturing, research and development attracting OEM manufacturers such as Boeing, Rolls Royce and McLaren to the area.
“Phase 4 of Sheffield Business Park is at the nucleus of AMID and provides great opportunity to create a natural gateway between Rotherham and Sheffield as well as driving forward the vision of supporting the prosperity of the region’s economy and positioning South Yorkshire as leading the way in Advanced Manufacturing.”
One of Yorkshire’s largest business parks, SBP’s current occupiers include the University of Sheffield’s “Factory 2050,” Stanley Black and Decker and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (Argyll Ruane Ltd).
The park is part of the government-designated Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone. Businesses located in enterprise zones are entitled to extra business rates relief and enhanced capital allowances, as well as simplified local authority planning.
Based in the region are the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), which researches advanced manufacturing technologies used in the aerospace, automotive, and other high-value manufacturing sectors. Rolls-Royce also opened an advanced blade casting facility in the area in 2014.
Construction work on the expansion plans is expected to start soon after planning consent is granted.
Reporting by Harry Wise