Funding secured for facility that could create nearly 1,000 jobs

A planned facility to speed development of new healthcare products and technologies – and create hundreds of jobs – will receive major funding, via the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.Nottingham Trent University’s £23m dual-site Medical Technologies Innovation Facility (MTIF) would see experts working with industry, to create new health devices and advanced materials for medical use.The MITF Centre would be based at two new Nottingham buildings; one for research and development at NTU’s Clifton Campus – home to the university’s School of Science and Technology – and another focusing on pilot production, manufacturing, quality assurance and commercialisation at the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, based at Boots HQ. The project will integrate scientists, engineers, designers, clinicians, inventors and entrepreneurs’ work.It is estimated the MTIF Centre could create up to 942 jobs and add £50m of GVA to the local economy within ten years; and create 35,700 sq ft of commercial floor space over the NTU and Enterprise Zone sites.Now up to £9.7m will be awarded towards the project by the D2N2 Infrastructure and Investment Board; with funds already approved for Phase 1 (Clifton Campus), and with approval for further investment for Phase 2 (Nottingham Enterprise Zone, Boots) subject to submission of a further design plan. This adds to NTU’s own funding of over £13m and the £300,000 set to come from Enterprise Zone business rates (Nottingham Enterprise Zone is one of four sites in the wider Nottingham & Derby Enterprise Zone, strategically managed by the D2N2 LEP).Planning approval for Phase 1 of the MITF project at NTU’s Clifton Campus has been granted. A planning application for Phase 2 at the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, Boots was submitted to Broxtowe Borough Council in January and is awaiting decision.Building at both sites would begin this year and be completed in 2020.