Rolls-Royce launched a public consultation at the AMP Technology Centre yesterday attended by Catcliffe residents, Rotherham councillors and businesspeople, ahead of a planning application being submitted in May.

Among plans unveiled by Rolls-Royce were to build three new factories on South Yorkshire's Advanced Manufacturing Park creating more than 700 hi-tech jobs. This figure could double if the company fully achieves its ambitions. Jobs would also be available for apprentices, as part of company plans to double the number of trainees it takes on every year.

One factory, to be built alongside the Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre and dubbed the Advanced Blade Casting Facility, would make turbine blades used in the high power compressor within a jet engine, where temperatures reach more than 1,900°C.

A second factory - to be called 'Project PoWer' - is likely to be built at the same time, behind the Advanced Blade Casting Facility and dedicated to making safety critical components for civil nuclear reactors.

If all goes according to plan, construction work on the first two factories could start next year and the company would start recruiting and training its new employees at the same time.

The third factory could be built at a later date.