News

Planning permission has been granted for Spanish corrugated group SAICA's project to build a £250m recycled paper mill near Manchester.

Trafford Metropolitan borough council’s planning department said it had granted permission for construction of the mill in the last week, although the permission was granted subject to a number of conditions.

It is so far unclear what those conditions are, and no-one from either SAICA/SCA or the council was available to comment on the permission this morning.

The mill will produce 400,000 tonnes of lightweight 100% recycled paper every year for use in corrugated packaging and is expected to create up to 200 jobs.

According to documents filed on Trafford council’s website, it would also run a combined heat and power plant that would provide 80% of the steam needs for the site and would also produce surplus electricity that could be exported to the National Grid.

Previous reports have suggested that the project enjoyed broad public support and had also been endorsed by local politicians. SAICA undertook an extensive consultation with local residents prior to submitting its application on 11 July.

The mill project, on a disused site known as Partington Wharfside next to Manchester Ship Canal, was announced at the start of the summer at the same time as SAICA paid £100m to acquire 19 of SCA’s plants in the UK.