ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INNOVATION DISTRICT SCOTLAND (AMIDS)
Project Value: £150-£250 million Investment Type: Development finance, operator investment Location: Renfrewshire, Glasgow City Region Landowner: Renfrewshire Council Timescale: Live Status: Operational site with future development at design stage
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) is Scotland’s home of manufacturing innovation. This emerging centre of excellence is crucial to national and international efforts and is part of Scotland’s answer to balancing manufacturing requirements while meeting net zero commitments. AMIDS is part of Scotland and the UK’s answer.
Net Zero solutions are at the heart of the JV established between Renfrewshire Council and Buccleuch Property who have the drive to create a world-class campus environment that will serve as an example across Scotland and the UK.
AMIDS is building on the success of existing academic centres of excellence in metal forming and lightweight manufacturing. With a cluster of world-renowned names already on site, including Boeing and Thermo Fisher, the aspiration is to establish knowledge and skill clusters in the regions strong innovation sectors such as photonics, aerospace & satellite manufacture, precision medicine/pharmaceutical development and high value zero emission technologies.
AMIDS is home to the headquarters facility of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) – a unique collaboration between public, private and academic institutions across the country. The UK’s first Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, CPI, is established next-door bringing the pharmaceutical industry together in another unique collaboration to find innovative new production processes. Construction is also underway for CPI’s OMICE facility which will revolutionise the manufacture of oligonucleotides.
The establishment of Tech Terrace will see the delivery of units ranging from 200 to 3,200m2 providing much needed speculative space for spin out organisations and those looking to scale up in a supportive, collaborative, and entrepreneurial environment. Design and build solutions can also be delivered to meet specific property requirements within a planning in principle consent for approximately 75,000m2.
National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
AMIDS (Renfrewshire) LLP has been set up as a joint venture partnership between Renfrewshire Council and Buccleuch Property to deliver the vision. The site is fully serviced including the installation of a district heating network and will benefit from a range of surrounding infrastructure programmes improving local connectivity currently being constructed under City Deal funding.
The investment opportunity is now primarily focussed on delivering the commercial aspect of the site. It is estimated that around £150-250 million is required to deliver the full masterplan as a mix of speculative and turnkey phases.
AMIDS will be a world-class environment that fosters collaboration between industry and academia to transform manufacturing processes. Substantial levels of interest across a range of sectors have already been expressed in the site from several occupiers.
To realise the ambition to a net zero future, every level of the development from the ground up is being considered:
- Providing appropriate infrastructure, design guides for buildings and transport routes to the site.
- Delivery of a 5th generation heat network to supply low carbon heat to occupiers makes this the first development of its kind in Scotland.
- New high-quality public realm and green space provides opportunities for healthy, sustainable, active lifestyles and is already being used by those on site and connecting neighbouring districts.
AMIDS and Glasgow Airpport
STATUS UPDATE
The site is operational with both NMIS and CPI in occupation on site. The wider infrastructure, roads, utilities, district heat network are complete.
Detailed plans for Tech Terrace are being completed and site investigations have been instructed to support the final designs for Tech Terrace along with a number of occupier enquiries for stand-alone facilities.
Site ownership or control is secured
Development of 52Ha is controlled by the JV. The site is located adjacent to the NMIS and CPI buildings and is available for immediate development.
Proposed use is identified or permitted in planning
Planning permission in principle has been granted and the JV site master planned for approximately 75,000m2 of Class 4, 5 & 6 development. Occupiers are to fall within the category of advanced manufacturing and/or research and development.
The project caters for a market with identifiable demand
There is a close working relationship between the JV and its surrounding academic and public sector partners. This is primarily driven through a strategic advisory group. The NMIS and CPI buildings are already anchoring industry led research projects under their respective grand challenges. And there are numerous engagements at various stages of progression with named occupiers seeking accommodation across a range of sizes, recognising that the supply and availability of advanced manufacturing space within the locale is restricted.
The project offers a potentially acceptable investment return
The JV contains structured development returns to ensure that there is an acceptable market return to investors.
The project is near market and investor-ready
The masterplan is being updated and site investigations have been instructed to prepare for the first speculative phase. Detailed planning applications for Tech Terrace are expected to be submitted in Summer 2024. Applications for turnkey developments will be progressed as pre-commitment agreements are secured. Funding opportunities are therefore imminently available.
MORE INFORMATION
Sandy Smith
Development Director, Buccleuch Property/AMIDS (Renfrewshire) LLP email: ssmith@buccleuch.com tel: +44 (0)131 524 0910 / +44 (0)7973 265591
