SLR achieves planning milestone for Shotton Paper Mill expansion project

SLR is leading on the planning applications for the redevelopment of the Shotton Paper Mill site in Deeside.

We are delighted to have achieved a significant milestone in the planning process and have obtained the first of two planning consents for the redevelopment of the mill.

SLR has been working with Modern Karton, the paper manufacturing subsidiary of Eren Holdings since mid-2020, in identifying potential sites within the UK to develop a containerboard and tissue manufacturing site. SLR was instrumental in introducing Modern Karton to the Shotton site when UPM announced their intention to sell and conducting environmental due diligence as part of the purchase. Advice and guidance has also been provided to Modern Karton throughout the purchase phase.

Shortly after introducing the site, we were commissioned to obtain all necessary consents to enable the development to proceed. After successfully achieving demolition consent in late September 2021, a two-phase approach was agreed to ensure that the clients ambitious programme could be met. Following close liaison with the County Council and Statutory Consultees, permission was secured for the first phase of works, which will allow the client to commence enabling works, subject to the discharge of pre-commence conditions. This has been imperative to the schemes programme as it will prepare the site and enable the construction of the new paper machine.

The second phase of work will cover the redevelopment of the entire site including vacant land to the north of the existing plant. The redevelopment application is expected to be determined over the next month.

The planning applications include a full Environmental Impact Assessment that has been conducted by SLR’s in-house team of technical experts.

We are also preparing a further planning application for submission to Welsh Government for the development of a combined heat and power plant that will make the paper mill self-sufficient in energy for paper production.

Subsequently, we will also prepare the environmental permit applications required to allow the redeveloped site to operate. These will be submitted to Natural Resources Wales in early 2023.

Paul Wright, Project Director for SLR said “SLR started working with Modern Karton to identify the optimum locations for a paper manufacturing site in the UK, one of which was North East Wales, so to be able to introduce them to the Shotton Mill site when its sale was announced by UPM, was very exciting. We continue to provide planning and environmental permitting support to the project.”