9 April 1998: Europe“s largest glass manufacturer, Saint-Gobain of France, is planning to build a UK 60 million float glass production plant at Eggborough in northern England.
The decision to constr…
9 April 1998: Europe“s largest glass manufacturer, Saint-Gobain of France, is planning to build a UK 60 million float glass production plant at Eggborough in northern England. The decision to construct the plant was made last year, and is expected to initially create up to 165 jobs, as well as other spin-off employment opportunities, in an area where unemployment is reported at 6.3%. A planning application to build the plant on the 96-acre site, near Eggborough power station, has now been put to Selby District Council and is expected to get the go-ahead without many complications. The site has already been identified by local planners as a potential location for new industrial and business development. A final planning decision is expected at some time this summer. The announcement of Saint-Gobain“s decision followed months of negotiations between the company and local bodies, including Selby Council, Yorkshire and Humberside Development Agency and North Yorkshire County Council. Eileen Scothern, economic development officer at Selby Council, said the local authority had provided a team of dedicated officers to work with the company to assist it through the English statutory processes. Selby Council leader Geoff Lynch also welcomed the move by Saint-Gobain to invest in the Selby area, rather than in other locations in the UK, and cited the direct and indirect employment benefits. He acknowledged the company“s desire to consult local people, which he said, displayed its commitment to becoming part of the community and understanding local concerns. Saint-Gobain“s UK general delegate Paul Neeteson said it has undertaken a complete environmental impact assessment looking at noise control, emissions, visual impact and the underground reservoir which supplies drinking water to Selby. “We are confident that the measures proposed in our planning application will minimise disruption in the Eggborough area. Nevertheless we are very keen to consult with local people about the proposed development as soon as possible and we are in the process of arranging a series of meetings with community representatives to explain fully our plans,” he said. The company reportedly chose Eggborough as the location for its new UK production plant because of its proximity to a large electricity supply and a good national road and rail network, Neeteson said. The development of a UK production facility is expected to reduce the logistical costs of shipping glass from Saint-Gobain“s continental float lines, while also enabling the company to meet the demand of the European market, which is growing at 2-3% every year. The plant will produce 185,000 tonnes of float glass annually, most of which will supply Saint-Gobain“s UK glass processing and installation subsidiary, Solaglas. Saint-Gobain hopes to start construction, following the appointment of a principal contractor, in July with completion by August 1999.