Member Article

AkzoNobel confirm construction of £100m Ashington site

AkzoNobel has confirmed that the construction of a £100 million manufacturing facility in Ashington is set to go ahead.

The factory received planning permission from Northumberland County Council yesterday, and represents one of the biggest manufacturing investments in the region in recent years. Building will now commence later in the year, with operations commencing in late 2014.

The investment in the site represents a major coup for the area, trebling AkzoNobel’s current North East manufacturing capacity as the new home to the companys UK Decorative Paints operations.

The move reinforces AkzoNobel’s commitment to ensuring that some of its most recognisable brands continue to be manufactured in the UK, with a particular focus on the north-east. The announcement followed a series of significant investments in the company’s fire protection facility, and research facilities at its Felling, Tyne and Wear site.

AkzoNobel’s UK Country Director, Guy Williams commented: “Receiving planning permission is another step along our timeline towards 2014, allowing us to start building on this new world-class facility. This investment highlights the importance of the north-east to AkzoNobel’s operations, placing the region at the heart of our UK manufacturing business for the long term.”

The new facility will also reduce energy consumption per litre of paint by 60%, whilst also making sustainabilty improvements by reusing and recycling waste water.

At the end of 2014 AkzoNobel will also close its current Prudhoe site, but has already started putting measures in place to ensure that the appropriate support and development is avaialbel to employees who want to move to the new site

Commenting on the announcement, Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery said: “This massive £100m investment by AkzoNobel in Ashington is to be warmly welcomed. The new hi-tech manufacturing plant will bring much-needed jobs to the town providing job opportunities for local people.

“Unemployment rates are high and we need every single job we can get in Ashington. I hope AkzoNobel’s decision to locate here will encourage other companies to follow suit. I look forward to them being a significant employer in the town for many years to come.”

NECC Chief Executive, James Ramsbotham, added: “This is a boost for South East Northumberland and will bring much needed jobs to an area, which is still reeling from last year’s announcement that Alcan is to close with around 600 jobs hanging in the balance.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .