New partnership could help unlock economic potential of Sheffield City Region’s GatewayEast development

27th April 2021

A new partnership that is aiming to help unlock the economic potential of the area surrounding Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been launched this week (27th April 2021).

The collaboration, between Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Peel L&P & the University of Sheffield, is set to explore how the parties can work together to catalyse the development of a high-value innovation cluster at Gateway East.

Peel L&P’s 11 million square feet Gateway East development has been highlighted as an emerging innovation district by the Sheffield City Region Strategic Economic Plan. Anchored by Doncaster Sheffield Airport, the district has international connectivity for both passengers & freight as well excellent road connections for logistics & travel throughout the UK.

The district offers a wide range of development opportunities & has the potential to be harnessed to create up to 35,000 jobs & 3,000 new homes worth £6.5bn to the local economy by 2037, according to the district’s lead – Peel L&P.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been agreed which enables the partners to bring together their expertise & consider projects that could accelerate development of the area to benefit the region. One option could be to develop a business case for a research & development (R&D) facility in the district.

Linked to research from across the University together with the expertise of the partners, an R&D facility would have the potential to become a world class asset where research, innovation, sustainability, education & training come together to put technology into practice for the benefit of industry, the Sheffield City Region & the North.

A facility could also provide the foundation to introduce a skills academy that focuses on working with industry to deliver a deep pool of talent across the region, in collaboration with local further education providers.

Professor Dave Petley, Vice-President for Innovation at the University of Sheffield, said: “We’re delighted to be forming a partnership with Peel L&P & Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The partnership gives us the opportunity to see how we can work together on projects that will help unlock the economic potential of Gateway East whilst also driving skills, education & innovation for the benefit of the region.”

Stephen Wild, Peel L&P’s Executive Director for Strategic Investment & Growth said: “We’re seeing an unprecedented change towards living more sustainably & this collaboration will help to drive forward innovation, sustainability & technology focused on mobility & transportation.

“This together with the significant opportunities for advanced manufacturing & logistics at Gateway East make this Sheffield City Region’s largest opportunity for sustainable economic growth & we’re proud to be working with the University of Sheffield & DSA to explore opportunities that will strengthen the region & help level up the country.

“The collaboration also builds on Peel L&P’s wider sustainability commitments as a regeneration business to bring benefits to communities & the environment for generations to come.”

The partnership will also maximise further opportunities already provided through the Catapult status of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) & the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC).

The Catapult Network is an integral part of the UKs innovation system, supported by the government to support universities, businesses & UK technologies that can bring substantial economic benefits, & assist the ‘Levelling Up’ agenda. The partnership proposes to foster continued collaboration between the University, including its Catapult centres, Peel L&P & Doncaster Sheffield Airport, its common purpose to create opportunities for economic growth.

Robert Hough CBE, Chair of Peel Airports said: “The partnership highlights the intention of positive collaboration, bringing together the proven development skills of Peel L&P, with the space, ambition & aspirations of Doncaster Sheffield Airport & the academic & practical expertise of the University, to create a development plan for a high-value & excellence-led innovation cluster.”

“The delivery of a Research & Development facility on the site would be an opportunity for academic, industry & public sector bodies to pool their expertise to tackle economic, social & environmental issues & for the site to act as a gateway to enable future generations of students, engineers, scientists & industrial partners to pioneer discovery”.

Chris Harcombe, Managing Director, Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: “We know that airports act as important catalysts to regional economic growth.  The partnership between DSA, Peel L&P & the University of Sheffield to create an excellence-led innovation cluster, will be a powerful tool for high-value inward investment for the Sheffield City Region.”

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