A colossal 100ft-high steelworks, covering the equivalent of four football pitches, is set to rise near Meadowhall, solidifying Sheffield’s status as a powerhouse of British engineering.

Forgemasters has secured planning permission for the £350m machining hall on Weedon Street, which will become the largest facility of its kind in the UK when it opens in 2028.

A Game-Changer for British Defence and Engineering

The cutting-edge facility will house 17 of the world’s most advanced vertical turning lathes, producing critical components for the British defence programme, including next-generation nuclear submarines.

A second, smaller building will feature a state-of-the-art test-house and training facility, ensuring vital skills are passed down to the next generation of engineers.

A Forgemasters spokesperson stated:
“The sheer scale of this project will make it an iconic Sheffield landmark, surpassing even the UK’s largest open-die forging line, which is currently under construction at our adjacent Brightside Lane site.”

Revitalising a Historic Industrial Site

The steelworks will rise on a brownfield site previously owned by British Land, once earmarked for the ambitious ‘River Don District’, which aimed to create nearly 5,000 jobs but never materialised.

The facility’s lathes are being produced by German engineering firm WaldrichSiegen, reinforcing Forgemasters’ commitment to cutting-edge technology.

A Nationalised Future for Forgemasters

Since its nationalisation in July 2021, Forgemasters is now fully owned by the Ministry of Defence and undergoing a £400m modernisation programme, securing its role at the heart of the UK’s strategic industrial and defence capabilities.

With this landmark project, Sheffield’s steelmaking legacy is not just being preserved—it’s being revolutionised for the future.

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