Ardagh Group gets go ahead for Newtownabbey drinks can factory

Linda Stewart — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 13:04:45 +0000

Planning permission has been granted for the construction of a major new factory in Newtownabbey.

The Ardagh Group will make drinks cans at the £150m facility to be built at the Global Point business park in County Antrim.

Permission was agreed by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s planning committee.

Ardagh first revealed its intention to build the factory in November 2021 and hope to have it operating next year.

Mayor Alderman Stephen Ross said it was an important milestone for the project.

“The economic importance of this development and the benefits it will bring not just to Antrim and Newtownabbey, but to the whole of Northern Ireland, cannot be overstated,” he added.

“The Ardagh facility is part of a high-quality portfolio of manufacturing projects planned for invest NI’s Global Point facility.”

Ardagh is based in Luxembourg but the company has Irish roots.

The initiative in Newtownabbey is part of a multi-billion dollar investment by the company, involving the construction of new, recyclable metal packaging capacity in Europe, North America and Brazil.

David Spratt, chief executive of Ardagh Metal Packaging Europe, said they appreciated the support they had from the council in progressing the development.

“We are delighted to be granted planning permission to deliver a new, innovative manufacturing facility in Newtownabbey and progress closer to the creation of nearly 200 new jobs for the local employment market whilst also supporting circular economy growth,” he said.

The post Ardagh Group gets go ahead for Newtownabbey drinks can factory first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

One of the world’s biggest drinks can companies has announced plans to build a $200m beverage can plant in Northern Ireland.

The Ardagh Metal Packaging plant will be located near Belfast and will service the needs of the company’s beverage customers in Ireland, the UK and Europe.

The initiative is part of a multibillion-dollar investment programme by AMP, involving the construction of new, recyclable, metal packaging capacity in Europe, North America and Brazil.

AMP plans to build the plant at Global Point in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, just outside Belfast and close to key local customers.

The investment is expected to lead to the creation of a large number of full-time jobs for engineers, technicians and other roles.

AMP is currently at the pre-planning application stage and is actively engaged with local stakeholders on the project.

Oliver Graham, chief executive of AMP, said: “This exciting project is an important part of AMP’s global investment programme. We are delighted to be investing in Northern Ireland supporting our clients’ sustainability needs and further reducing our carbon footprint by locating capacity closer to our end customers.”

Marcel Martin, chief supply chain officer at Coca-Cola HBC, added: “It is great to see this investment in the new can making facility and in Northern Ireland, especially as it will supply high-quality beverage cans to our plants.

“With our own state-of-the-art production facility in Knockmore Hill, Lisburn, Ardagh’s investment showcases the importance of partnership to bringing shared value to suppliers and customers and aligns with our desire to shorten our supply chain to reduce emissions and buy local where possible and support local jobs and communities.”

David Spratt, chief executive of AMP Europe, said: “We plan to have the new state of the art plant operational during 2023 and we expect to commence recruitment in 2022.”

He added: “This investment is supported by key AMP customers and will have capacity for further expansion to service additional growth in customer demand.”AMP, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is 75 per cent owned by Ardagh Group the international packaging group which traces its origins back to glass manufacturing in Dublin in the 1930s.

Turley is handling the planning application for the project and the proposal of application notice setting out a range of digital and remote activities will be undertaken as part of the statutory pre-application community consultation process.

A dedicated consultation website including a live chat function is going live on 19 January 2022. Two public webinar sessions are being held on 27 January 2022.

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Ardagh Group gets go ahead for Newtownabbey drinks can factory

Ardagh unveils plans for $200m drinks can plant in Northern Ireland