Double green light for East Yorkshire mega-developments
In unsurprising but exciting news for the region, both the 300-acre Goole Freeport South and Metsä Tissue’s 3m sq ft factory can officially proceed.
Goole Freeport South is a joint project from Henry Boot Development and landowner St John’s College Cambridge, with Sheffield-based architect BDP, planning consultant Arup, and Savills rounding off the project team.
Located immediately south of the M62 at Junction 36, 2.5km west of Goole, and close to Goole Docks, the new Freeport will provide around 5.6m sq ft of employment space and accommodate buildings from 40,000 sq ft to 1m sq ft.
HBD submitted the application for the scheme in June last year.
The facility will increase the UK’s self-sufficiency in the manufacture of tissue products by more than 30%. Credit: Metsa
Meanwhile, Wykeland has been leading on plans for Metsä Tissue’s mammoth factory and submitted plans to the council in February.
Also fronting up the project team is architect Corstorphine & Wright, planning consultancy Spawforths, and Tower Surveys, which undertook all the topographic work on the scheme.
Development will be carried out in four phases after the initial enabling phase, allowing the factory to operate at a smaller scale initially and grow as construction allows.
Enabling works are expected to commence in 2026 with all phases complete by 2035.
The 210-acre site is situated on the northern part of the 500-acre Goole tax site within the Humber Freeport, on land south east of Rawcliffe Road in Airmyn.
Dominic Gibbons, Wykeland managing director said: “We’re delighted that, together with Metsä Tissue, we have secured this major step forward for one of the largest single developments in the Yorkshire and Humber region in recent years.
“We appreciate the support of the Planning Committee members for this large-scale development and their recognition of the very substantial economic benefits it can deliver.
“Having gained a deferred planning approval, we will now continue to work with Metsä and East Riding of Yorkshire Council towards delivery.”
Professor Neal Juster, interim chair of Humber Freeport, said: “This is another very significant step forward for Humber Freeport, and for the two large-scale developments within our Goole tax site. It adds to the powerful momentum behind the Freeport.
“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.
“We’re delighted to see Metsä Tissue and Wykeland Group secure planning permission for the tissue paper mill. It is an important investment not just for Goole, but for the wider region, boosting the Humber’s credentials as a hotbed for advanced, sustainable manufacturing.
“A further economic uplift will be created by HBD and St John’s College Cambridge’s industrial and manufacturing park. Outline permission for this industrial cluster will enable the developers to market specific opportunities and take forward the strong pipeline of enquiries for the site.”
