Boeing granted approval for first British manufacturing plant in Sheffield

Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company, has been given the go-ahead to build a new multi-million pound manufacturing plant in Sheffield.

Sheffield City Council approved Boeing’s plans for a manufacturing and research building along with ancillary car parking and landscaping at the Sheffield Business Park.

The move will create at least 30 new jobs and provide the region’s businesses with new supply chain opportunities.

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment at SCC, said: “We’re delighted that Boeing has chosen Sheffield as the location for their first factory in Europe, a decision that is testament to the great skills and research capability we have in the region.

“I’d also like to praise our planning team for the speedy way they have worked on this – Sheffield is a city that knows business and can handle the very biggest global companies.

“I’m looking forward to working with Boeing as one of its stated aims is to try and source significant amounts through the local supply chains – this is a tremendous opportunity for local companies and job creation.”

James Needham, senior operations manager for Boeing Sheffield, commented: “We are pleased that Sheffield City Council has approved Boeing’s planning application for Boeing Sheffield.

“It will be located on a site adjacent to the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, co-founded with Boeing over a decade ago, in the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District in South Yorkshire.

“Boeing Sheffield will produce actuation systems for commercial aeroplanes, specifically the Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 and will employ more than 30 people when it opens in late 2018.

“We also plan to place additional actuation systems work into Boeing Portland in Oregon, in the United States which will further build on their demonstrated capabilities. We are grateful to the Sheffield and Rotherham communities for supporting our planning application and we look forward to drawing on local talent and suppliers to make Boeing Sheffield a success.”

Sir Nigel Knowles, chair of the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “This multi-million-pound investment is fantastic news and further endorses the region’s credentials as a global centre for innovation-inspired advanced manufacturing.

“A lot of people across the region have worked in partnership to help bring this investment about and it will play to the strengths of our supply chain and skilled workforce.”

Three research buildings are in the process of being completed in the western corner of the site. Factory 2050, located in the middle of the site, is open and operational and a hydraulic press facility which is attached to the Factory 2050 is in the process of being completed.

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