Rolls Royce plane plant plans ready for take-off

ROLLS Royce has moved a step closer to pushing the start button on its aerospace operation in Rotherham by submitting detailed plans for a state-of-the-art factory to make aeroplane parts.

Rotherham Borough Council will decide later in the spring whether to approve the latest application by the giant engineering firm, which was given outline permission for three new hi-tech facilities expected to create more than 350 jobs.

Rolls Royce hopes to start work on the factory as soon as permission is granted, with the firm hoping it will be up and running next year.

Sheffield architects Bond Bryan have drawn up the detailed plans for the advanced blades casting facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park at Catcliffe, which will cover more than 150,000 sq ft and make turbine blades for Rolls Royce’s high thrust engines.

Another facility, which has yet to be the subject of detailed plans, will develope and make parts for a new wave of nuclear power stations, while Rolls Royce has permission for a third factory on the same site.

In its application, Rolls Royce said that it had received plenty of support from the council and hoped for a speedy determination of the detailed plans.

A decision on the plans is expected in May.

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