Green light for UK's largest tissue factory

Finnish firm Metsä said the facility would help to reduce the UK's reliance on imported tissue products

A Finnish toilet roll manufacturer has been given the go ahead to create what it claims will be "the UK's largest tissue paper mill" in Goole.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council's planning committee approved the proposals from Metsä Tissue and commercial property developer Wykeland Group at a meeting last week.

The facility, which would extend to about three million sq ft (279,000 sq m) of space, would be built in phases, supporting up to 400 direct jobs, according to Metsä.

Henry Boot Developments and landowner St John's College Cambridge have also received outline planning consent for an industrial and manufacturing park at the Humber Freeport Goole site.

Metsä said the mill, which would be capable of producing 240,000 tonnes of fresh fibre-based tissue paper per year once fully operational, would increase self-sufficiency for tissue in the UK from about 40% to around 85%.

The firm also said it was investing in the latest technologies in its mills across Europe to improve environmental and operational efficiencies.

Goole is one of three Humber Freeport tax sites, along with Hull East and Able Humber Port, near Immingham.

Freeports are special areas within the UK's borders where different economic regulations apply along with tax and customs incentives.

Prof Neal Juster, interim chair of Humber Freeport, said: "For Goole, it is further recognition of the strength of the investment proposition in the town.

"Its strategic location, connectivity and infrastructure make it an ideal location to invest, creating high-quality direct employment and supply chain opportunities," he added.

Under the proposals, the industrial and manufacturing park development would create more than five million sq ft of industrial space, with units ranging from 40,000 sq ft to one million sq ft.

Prof Juster said this would enable the developers to market specific opportunities to businesses.

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