ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INNOVATION DISTRICT SCOTLAND (AMIDS)
Project Value: £100-£150 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 to accelerate growth in Scotland’s advanced manufacturing sector.
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, Rolls Royce, PEAK Scientific and Thermo Fisher.
AMIDS is already home to two High Value Manufacturing Catapults; the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) operated by University of Strathclyde and focussed on a range of industry specific research activities across materials, productivity and skills, and CPI’s Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) bringing the pharmaceutical industry together in another unique collaboration to find innovative new production processes. Construction is also underway on the Oligonucleotide Manufacturing and Innovation Centre of Excellence (OMICE) facility, expanding CPI’s activities into a fast emerging area of cutting-edge medicines. These Catapults are successfully bringing together public, private and academic institutions and multi-million pound investment to solve a range of grand challenges at AMIDS.
The site is master planned for further development of up to 75,000 sq m of advanced manufacturing space to create a world-class campus environment across the space, electronics, photonics, net zero and medicines manufacturing/pharma sectors to be taken forward in a JV between Buccleuch Property and Renfrewshire Council.
Net Zero solutions are at the heart of development. AMIDS is served by an operational 5th generation district heating network offering low carbon heating and cooling to its occupiers.
The proposed speculative first phase is now at pre-planning stage. Tech Terrace will see the delivery of up to 5,500 sq m of flexible manufacturing space in units ranging from 200 sq m providing much needed speculative space for spin out organisations and those looking to scale up in a supportive, collaborative and entrepreneurial environment. Construction is planned to start in 2025.
Tech Terrace
Tech Terrace Site Plan
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The investment opportunity at AMIDS is primarily focussed on delivering the commercial aspect of the site. It is estimated that around £150 million is required to deliver the full masterplan.
AMIDS will be a world-class environment that fosters collaboration between industry and academia to transform manufacturing processes. Good interest has 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. Forthcoming opportunities for on-site generation of renewables using low and zero carbon technology.
- Expansion of the 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 is also shortlisted within the Glasgow City Region Investment Zone as a tax site. Once the final business case is approved later in 2025, this will offer occupiers significant tax benefits and cost savings.
STATUS UPDATE
The site is operational with both the University of Strathclyde/National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland and CPI/Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre operational at AMIDS. The wider infrastructure, roads, utilities, district heat network are complete.
Detailed plans for Tech Terrance are at pre-planning stage. Site investigations are broadly complete for the first development phase/s.
There are a number of active occupier enquiries for stand-alone facilities.
Site ownership or control is secured
52 acres of development land is held by AMIDS (Renfrewshire) LLP for the development of an advanced manufacturing campus, adjacent to Glasgow Airport and the M8 motorway.
The project offers a potentially acceptable investment return
The JV is structured to ensure that there are appropriate returns to all investing parties.
Proposed use is identified or permitted in planning
Planning in principle granted. The masterplan is in the process of being updated and by Spring 2025 anticipated that an application for detailed consent will be submitted for Tech Terrace.
The project is near market and investor-ready
Marketing and industry engagement has commenced. Development is also supported by an active Strategic Advisory Group comprising key public and academic stakeholders.
The project caters for a market with identifiable demand
There are several ongoing discussions to deliver design and build solutions for a range of advanced manufacturing companies within the AMIDS key target sectors. Enquiries for Tech Terrace suggest that the first phase will be oversubscribed, supporting the case for a second Tech Terrace phase and the development of larger units for growing companies. The masterplan has been structured to reflect this within its engineering and pharma zones.
AMIDS 360 Degree Map
MORE INFORMATION
Sandy Smith
Development Director, Buccleuch Property email: ssmith@buccleuch.com tel: +44 (0)7973 265591
Judy George
Director, Buccleuch Property email: jgeorge@buccleuch.com tel: +44 (0)7730 147817
Mark Jones
Director, Tweed Property Consultants email: mark.jones@tweedproperty.co.uk tel: +44 (0)7751 571541
