21 Dec. 2023: Metsä Group has selected Arup as one of its partners to design a planned new, state-of-the art tissue paper mill in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire. With the planned investment Metsä Group’s tissue paper business aims to replace almost half of imported essential tissue products and bring locally produced, sustainable tissue products to the UK, increasing the country’s self-sufficiency in this sector by 30 %.

Arup supported Metsä Group’s tissue paper business in identifying the proposed location - a 200-acre site in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire in the Humber region.

“Goole is the perfect location for this proposed investment. The Humber region provides a crucial gateway to the whole of the UK and the region’s ambitions to bring cutting-edge green technology and jobs to the UK matches our ambitions in clean, sustainable manufacturing”, Alan Jeffery, Technical Director, UK and Ireland, Metsä Group’s tissue paper business.

“We are delighted that Metsä Group’s tissue paper business will reap the benefit of Arup’s local knowledge in delivering the planned new facility in Goole, Yorkshire. Working with a forerunner in sustainable bioeconomy and circular economy such as Metsä aligns well with Arup values and we’re excited to drive forward sustainable development in manufacturing together”, Andy Pennington, Director and Liverpool Office Leader, Arup.

Arup will provide Civil and Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering and Landscape Architecture services as part of the design team for the planned new facility. Arup’s multi-disciplinary design team supported Metsä’s search by undertaking site due diligence studies for the short-listed locations and testing Metsä’s preferred layout masterplan against the constraints of each site. Subject to planning and environmental permits and a final investment decision, the site will occupy an area of around 200 acres.