Developer ‘disappointed’ after Finnish firm behind huge 400-jobs Goole tissue mill pulls out
The Finnish company behind plans for a huge tissue paper Mill in East Yorkshire, which could eventually employ over 400 people, has pulled out of the project.
Located on a 211 acre sitein Goole and led by paper company Metsä Tissue, the development was first announced in 2023, at which time it was praised by then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Property development firm Wykeland Group, which owns the development rights for the scheme, as well as the Goole site it is based on, said it is now speaking to other firms who may be interested in taking the project forward.
Wykeland added in a statement that it was “disappointed” that Metsä Tissue had pulled out of the scheme.
In a statement given to Goole Times, Tobias Lüning, senior vice president (commercial) and managing director of Metsä Tissue GmbH, said: “Since announcing our plans in 2023,we have worked closely with the local community, businesses and authorities across East Riding of Yorkshire to bring the tissue mill project in Goole to life.
“However, after extensive pre-engineering, permitting processes and financial evaluations, we have decided not to proceed with the project.”
Planning permission for the tissue mill was granted in September of this year.
Previous plans would have seen Wykeland Group sell the site to Metsä Tissue once planning had been granted.
A press release from Wykeland issued in 2023 said that the project would be built in several phases over the coming decade, with plans to create over 400 jobs on the site during that time.
The company said the facility would “significantly reduce” the quantity of tissue products imported into the UK and Ireland, increasing the UK’s self-sufficiency by more than 30 per cent.
In a statement issued today, Wykeland managing director, Dominic Gibbons, said: “We’re disappointed that Metsä Tissue has decided not to proceed with this development following the substantial amount of work, over the past three years, by ourselves and other stakeholders to deliver a detailed planning consent in early September.
“However, the site now has full planning consent for 3m sq ft of manufacturing and high-bay warehousing space, and benefits from attractive Freeport financial incentives, so it offers a very appealing investment proposition.
“We had put plans in motion in anticipation of Metsä’s decision and we’re now talking to prospective alternative end users who are interested in realising the potential of this key site.”
Speaking on the scheme in September of 2023, then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Metsä Tissue’s investment is good for Yorkshire, good for our economy and good for sustainability.
“This announcement is another example of the UK being the first choice for European investment and delivers on my commitment to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country.”