Wykeland Group and Finnish manufacturer Metsä Tissue have submitted plans to create the UK’s largest tissue paper mill in Goole, East Yorkshire.
The partner companies have jointly lodged a planning application for the landmark 3m sq ft facility to East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
Wykeland holds the long-term development rights on the site and has worked closely with Metsä Tissue for more than two years to pave the way for the investment of several hundred million pounds.
Subject to planning approval, the development will be built in several phases over the coming decade and could create over 400 jobs on site during that time, with thousands more generated across the supply chain and local economy.
The facility could increase the UK’s self-sufficiency in the manufacture of essential tissue products by more than 30 per cent,
The planning application seeks approval for the construction of the tissue paper mill, alongside office space and associated infrastructure, on a 211-acre site between Rawcliffe Road and the M62 motorway in Goole.
Wykeland Managing Director Dominic Gibbons said: “We identified the huge potential of this site several years ago and over the past two years have worked closely with Metsä Tissue to bring to fruition their ambition to create a world-class facility in the UK.
“With over 50 years’ experience in the Yorkshire region, we are delighted to bring our planning and development expertise to this project.
“Submission of this application is a key stage in the development process and we look forward to continuing to support Metsä Tissue to secure planning consent and move through to the delivery phase.”
Alan Jeffery, Technical Director, UK and Ireland, for Metsä Tissue, said: “We have worked collaboratively with Wykeland from the outset of our relationship through to the submission of this planning application.
“Our partnership has contributed to the project progressing smoothly to this point and we look forward to working together to take the development through the planning process.”
With approximately 45% of tissue products currently imported into the UK and Ireland, Metsä Tissue aims to replace almost half of the imported products with British production.
Using fresh fibre pulp as the main raw material from sustainably-managed Nordic forests, the proposed Goole facility could ultimately reach a production capacity of 240,000 ton of tissue paper to serve both the professional and consumer markets.
If approved, the development would be the first major investment in the Goole tax site within the Humber Freeport.
