More than 200 jobs will be created on the Northern Gateway site in Deeside, North Wales, as a leading European tissue manufacturer announces it will be constructing a brand new facility with Welsh Government support.

Italian company Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti (ICT) has signed a preliminary contract for a 50 acre site, to develop a state-of-the art integrated tissue production and conversion facility, the first of its kind in the UK in more than 15 years. Construction is expected to begin early next year and once complete, will create 229 new jobs.

The Welsh Government has provided £5 million towards the new 700,000 sq ft facility. This follows a £10 million investment in the Northern Gateway in March, to unlock the development potential of the site.

The new facility, equipped with the latest technology, will deliver consumer tissue products marketed through retailer private labels and ICT’s own brand FOXY to the UK and Irish markets.

According to the company, the location and development presents the “perfect opportunity” for retailers and their customers to benefit from the highest quality tissue products with availability assured from ICT’s industry leading supply chain expertise.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said:

This development is good news for the Northern Gateway site, Deeside and North Wales.  It will bring a brand new state-of-the-art facility to the site with more than 200 jobs, and the possibility of further expansion in the future.

“The Northern Gateway site has tremendous potential and I’m very pleased that we have been able to support ICT’s decision to locate its new facility here. It will be an important employer in the future and will be a key contributor as we build a stronger and fairer north Wales.”

Minister for North Wales Lesley Griffiths said:

“This is excellent news for North Wales. ICT is a world leader in its field and it will be bringing skilled employment to the region. I look forward to seeing these exciting plans develop.”

ICT has worked with the Welsh Government for over two years. The firm has carried out a feasibility study of potential sites all over the UK during the last three years and a spokesperson for the company said: “We are more than pleased with our final choice to make Deeside our new home and to expand our footprint to North Wales and the UK.”