It’s official. McCain Foods’ extensive plans to upgrade and expand its potato processing plant in Scarborough, England, have been approved by local government officials. The £100 million project will bring major renovations and additions to the site, including:
- A change of existing coldstores to create new production lines in the northeastern part of the factory.
- A new loading bay extension with associated HGV access, parking and turning areas.
- A platform with a louver screen on the northern elevation of the existing building.
- An additional fire control water tank close to the existing tank in the northwestern part of the plant close to Haver’s Hill.
- Two extensions to the south facing elevations of the factory, facing onto Cayton Low Road to house improved potato-receiving equipment.
- Erection of an extension in the center of the present factory complex to house new, improved manufacturing equipment for the proposed increase in production at the plant.
- Installation of an anaerobic digester unit with three ancillary treatment tanks and the associated flare stack. This will be centrally located within the present factory site surrounded by existing buildings. The digester will be in the form of a cylindrical steel tank with a diameter of 21 meters and a height of 23 meters. The flare stack will measure be 12 meters in height.
“Established almost 50 years ago, the McCain Foods Scarborough facility is one of the company’s most successful sites,” said Bill Bartlett, corporate affairs director. “As the largest private employer in Scarborough and partner to many suppliers and community organizations in the area, we are dedicated to our operations here.”
Approximately 736 people work at the production facility and in the headquarters building. McCain is the UK’s largest purchaser of British potatoes, buying approximately 15% of the annual crop, thereby contributing a significant amount to the arable farming industry, which forms an important part of the local economy in North and East Yorkshire.
