Macclesfield MP David Rutley took a trip to Hulley Road this week.

The Gravesend-born politician joined the Macclesfield AstraZeneca team to mark the completion of the construction phase of a new multi-million pound advanced medicine manufacturing facility.

The facility, which will add to the already 2000-strong workforce at their Hurdsfield Industrial Estate site, is set to open in 2022.

He met with AstraZeneca to mark the 'topping out' of the new advanced manufacturing facility, where the last beam is placed on the structure.

During his COVID-secure visit, Mr Rutley met representatives of the 325-strong construction and engineering teams who have been involved in the project so far.

The new state-of-the-art facility will eventually replace older assets on the site and will provide the capacity needed to meet rising global demand for AstraZeneca's oncology medicine Zoladex, a drug used to treat patients with prostate cancer, breast cancer and gynaecological disorders.

Construction started in May 2021, and will be ready by the fourth quarter of 2022.

Rochdale-firm BES are building on the site, visited by Mr Rutley this week.

Chris Maddock, Macclesfield Campus Lead said: "The AZ team and our partners have come together brilliantly over the past two years, working over 500,000 person hours to date. We are incredibly proud that Macclesfield is the home of Zoladex manufacturing, a complex medicine that continues to help millions of patients around the world.

"The new facility means we will be able to help even more."

It is the second visit by Macc's MP to AstraZeneca in recent memory. He famously accompanied Prime Minister Boris Johnson on his visit in May.

The 60-year-old MP joined the Prime Minister in praising the global pharmaceutical company for their coronavirus vaccine.

Speaking on his most recent visit, David Rutley MP said: "Congratulations to everyone involved at AZ, and to their construction and engineering partners, who have reached this important milestone for the new manufacturing facility in the most challenging of circumstances.

"This is good news for all those work at the Macclesfield site, the local economy and for many patients throughout the world."

David Rutley also championed Cheshire's Paralympians on Twitter this week, he also visited Macclesfield students partaking on their National Citizens Service course.

To follow his recent voting record, please click here.

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