A Finnish company has received approval to establish the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's largest tissue paper mill at Humber Freeport, creating more than 450 jobs.
Metsä Group initially revealed plans in 2023 to construct a factory in Goole, followed by a series of public consultations to emphasise the potential job creation and economic benefits their proposals could bring to the area.
The proposed plans – designated for land south east of North Airmyn Grang – were adjusted following initial consultation and have now been considered by planners at East Riding of Yorkshire Council who approved the project, provided Metsä fulfils several legal agreements.
The enormous factory, which will span approximately three million square feet once completed, is set to be constructed in four separate stages over a decade. Upon completion, the mill will produce roughly 240,000 tonnes of tissue paper annually – accounting for one fifth of all tissue paper produced in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ – reducing the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's dependence on industry imports by more than 30%.
The £1bn firm manufactures hygiene products for households and professionals, as well as greaseproof papers for food preparation and packaging. It currently operates from Finland, where its headquarters are located, as well as King's Lynn, Norfolk, and several subsidiaries in countries including Latvia and Germany.
Planning documents reveal that the construction phase will generate or maintain approximately 338 jobs across a 10-year building programme, providing a stimulus to regional construction, the supply chain and local services, whilst supporting 16-34 training and apprenticeship opportunities annually, reports .
During construction, the scheme is poised to deliver an economic injection of a substantial £217m – with an anticipated average of £3.67m in business rates generated annually, all of which will remain within the local area for 25 years, thanks to the Freeport tax site designation. Projections suggest it will generate between 405 and 459 full-time positions.
The development will also deliver a considerable economic stimulus to the region – approximately £26.5m of gross value added (GVA) each year.
The planning committee documents, examined during the meeting, stated: "Overall, the economic benefits associated with the development are significant. Economic activity within the local area of the development is understood to be lower than the regional and national average, and the 161 unemployment rate among the working age population is the same as the regional average but lower than the national average therefore the employment generated is considered a significant benefit of the proposal."
Council planners emphasised how the open vistas across the site would be dramatically transformed, stating: "Significant adverse effects would be experienced during construction on the site character and landscape character area, replacing open fields with a busy construction site. Similar effects would be experienced by residents in the vicinity and users of surrounding Public Right of Ways."
The report notes that after 15 years, vegetation around the development will have matured, "substantially enclosing its boundaries" though "there would however continue to be significant adverse effects on the landscape within the site due to the dominance of new large-scale industrial buildings and associated infrastructure, compared to the former open arable fields."
The scheme has received approval conditional upon several legal agreements being finalised, including a financial contribution towards J36 M62 highway enhancement works covering 8.1% of the total project costs. Additional requirements include a £130,200 financial contribution for the Glews roundabout upgrade scheme and £140,000 for public transport service enhancements, alongside other payments for travel planning and habitat development.
A representative for Metsä Group commented: "The Planning Committee of East Riding of Yorkshire Council has endorsed Metsä Tissue's planning application, subject to certain stipulations. The application will be closed by decision notice once open issues are closed."
