More than 400 jobs look set to be created in East Yorkshire after a Finnish tissue paper manufacturer unveiled investment plans worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
Metsa Tissue has identified the new freeport site in Goole as the location for a huge state-of-the-art mill, one that would boast the largest production capacity in the 海角视频. Featuring the latest in sustainable production technology, and built in several phases over the next decade, it would massively enhance Britain’s self-sufficiency with the fast moving consumer products, reducing a reliance on imports.
Subject to planning and environmental permits and a final investment decision, Metsa will occupy an area of around 200 acres, giving it the capacity to produce 240,000 tonnes of tissue paper annually. It comes little more than a week after Amazon confirmed its plans for a huge fulfilment centre at Melton, with more than 1,200 jobs eyed, as Siemens Mobility's huge train manufacturing site also nears completion less than a mile away.
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Esa Kaikkonen, chief executive of Metsa Tissue, part of Metsa Group - a £6 billion turnover co-operative made up of more than 90,000 private forest owners - said: “Goole is the perfect location for this proposed investment. The Humber region provides a crucial gateway to the whole of the United Kingdom and the region’s ambitions to bring cutting-edge green technology and jobs to the 海角视频 matches our ambitions in clean, sustainable manufacturing.
“We are delighted to announce our plan to invest in a world-class production site in Goole. This exciting investment would bring the 海角视频 and Finland together through combining the sustainable raw material of fresh wood fibres grown in the Nordics with world-class local production of quality tissues in the 海角视频. We are thrilled about how these plans can contribute to more sustainable production in the 海角视频, offering alternatives to imported products. The project will significantly enhance Metsa Tissue’s presence in this country and underscores the importance of the 海角视频 market to our business in the years ahead.”
The company is one of Europe’s leading suppliers, and currently operates nine mills - with three in Germany, three in Sweden, as well as operations in Finland, Poland and Slovakia. Serving professional and consumer markets, the planned facility would be the first major development in the proposed Goole tax site within the Humber Freeport. Metsa's sister timber business has 海角视频 operations in Boston, Widnes and King's Lynn in the 海角视频.
Investment Minister Lord Dominic Johnson said: “This investment is a huge vote of confidence in Goole, Yorkshire and the Humber. With hundreds of millions of pounds being committed, and thousands of jobs being created at both the new site and in the wider supply chain, this will have huge benefits for workers and businesses in Goole and many communities across East Riding and North Lincolnshire.”
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Hull developer Wykeland has the rights to the land, immediately west of Junction 36 of the M62, on the northern side. Dominic Gibbons, managing director, said: “We identified the potential of this site a few years ago and secured a development agreement on the land 18 months ago. We’re now delighted to have secured a major international investor to realise that potential.
“We have worked closely with Metsä Tissue since the end of last year to support their ambitions to establish a world-class facility on the site and bring hundreds of new jobs to the region. We will continue to support Metsä Tissue through the planning process, bringing to the project our substantial experience within the region of large-scale developments delivering significant economic impact.”
The sale of the site will be subject to planning apprioval, with a deal exchanged upon. Metsa, behind the Katrin brand in the 海角视频, first announced plans to invest in the 海角视频 two years ago.
Simon Bird, chair of Humber Freeport and ABP’s regional port diretor, said: “Metsa’s announcement regarding the proposed Goole Tax Site is a great boost for the Humber Freeport that builds on other recent successes and will help us deliver our wider ambitions around promoting job creation and regeneration and supporting the ‘levelling up’ agenda.”
Public events to further detail the proposal are planned for early November, to be held at RaisE on Tom Pudding Way, with Mr Kaikkonen to be joined by technical director Alan Jeffery and senior vice president for 海角视频 and Ireland, Mika Paljakka.