A new 'state-of-the-art' sugar beet processing plant in North Yorkshire is one step closer to being built, as early planning documents have been submitted for its construction.
Farmers have welcomed the move, in which the major sugar processing plant could support hundreds of jobs.
According to early stage planning documents, Al Khaleej International Ltd expects a supply chain of about 3,500 British farmers, largely from across the North East, to supply sugar beet to the proposed plant.
Al Khaleej International, a Cayman Islands-based subsidiary of Al Khaleej Sugar of Dubai, is seeking to construct the processing facility east of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.
The 65 hectare site would include ancillary buildings and four 80m-tall storage silos on land adjacent to Thornbar Farm, Marton Cum Grafton.
5000-6000 tonnes of sugar
In the documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council, the applicant states: “The proposed development will regenerate the site and provide employment at the plant for between 200 and 300 people and involve a supply chain of circa 3,500 British farmers in the sourcing of sugar beet from a large area of predominantly North East England.”
It adds: “The plant would process between 24,000 to 36,000 tonnes of sugar beet during the harvest season (September to March) per day, with 24 hour a day warehouse and packaging operations.”
Some 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of refined sugar would be produced at the plant every day.
Al Khaleej Sugar supplies around 1.5 million tones of fine and course sugar worldwide.
