Did you spot HPARK making its first TV appearance in today’s Sky News documentary about economic growth?
Entitled What are the barriers to economic growth in the UK ahead of the Budget? the documentary highlights Rochdale and Cambridge as two locations with game changing potential.
Investment in new commercial development is crucial for that ambition to be realised, in order to attract and support the global businesses and homegrown start ups that will provide the highly skilled, well paid jobs the country needs.
As a flagship development within the Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone, Sky’s footage of the HPARK site clearly demonstrates the scale of the opportunity on offer in South Heywood.
The drone zooms over the 120-acre site which will soon be home to 1.45m sq ft of new industrial development and up to 2,400 new jobs, contributing to the aim of improving local GDP, wage levels and even life expectancy.
“Places like this”, says the reporter, “might be part of the answer.”
The documentary moves onto Hopwood Hall College which is tailoring its curriculum to meet the requirements of local employers. Principal Julia Heap is offering to work with companies to ensure the correct skills are available in the local workforce.
And the piece features an interview with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham who firmly believes the area can be home to the UK’s next, sustainable, industrial revolution.
Andrew Russell, MD of HPARK developer Russells, said: “As part of the Atom Valley MDZ, HPARK is the first shovel ready opportunity available for operators looking to locate in this area and will be a catalyst to further development.
“We’ve already delivered the game-changing motorway link road to serve the site and the community beyond, and now we’re focusing on attracting the biggest and best companies to bring their operation to this ideally located site.
“As the documentary shows, operators will receive a warm welcome in Rochdale and the opportunity to locate, grow and thrive here is huge.”