Funding boost for £13m Salford robotics centre

The 24,000 sq ft centre of excellence for intelligent automation and robotics, designed by 5plus Architects, has been granted £6.5m from the European Regional Development Fund and construction is due to start in September. 

A tender for the construction of the centre was launched in May with a decision on a main contractor expected next month.

Part of the University of Salford’s £800m, 240-acre masterplan, the centre will house robotics and manufacturing labs, teaching space and an automotive laboratory on the ground floor. 

Planning approval for the project was granted last September. 

The University has been home to the National Advanced Robotics Research Centre since 1987. 

The existing technology house on the Frederick Road site will be demolished to make way for the project. 

The proposed robotics centre sits within the masterplan’s innovation district, which will be the main employment area and will offer incubation and enterprise space for start-ups and SMEs. 

In March, Place North West revealed English Cities Fund, the joint venture between Muse Developments, L&G and Homes England, had been appointed development partner to deliver the university masterplan. 

ECF beat off competition from Bruntwood with Capital & Centric, Peel with Urban Splash, and Robertson. 

Georgina Harris, director of engineering at the University of Salford, said: “The ERDF funding is a huge achievement for those involved in this project, and a real endorsement of how important the project is. 

“The centre will look to develop solutions to problems that can be matured for everyday use; technologies that become ubiquitous, an essential part of how we all work and live.” 

The professional team on the robotics centre also features Dooley Associates, Faithful & Gould, RoC Consulting, and Buro Happold.