Projects

New state-of-the-art £150 million beverage can plant

Our role

• We provided expert Planning, Strategic Communications and Economics services for Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) for plans for a new beverage can manufacturing plant at Global Point, Newtownabbey near Belfast.
• We assisted the client with their site selection exercise in 2021. We then managed the pre-application discussion phase working with the LPA in co-ordinating meetings with all statutory consultees to agree the scope of technical assessments required to support a detailed planning application.
• Our Strategic Communications team advised on the consultation strategy for the project and were responsible for the co-ordination of community engagement through online media and political engagement.
• We maintained a positive relationship and open dialogue with the council, ensuring that the pre-application discussions were effective.
• We led the co-ordination of the planning application package and monitoring the planning application through the process. During this time we worked closely with the LPA, statutory consultees and client team to address any comments raised and ensure an efficient determination.
• We also advised the client on the extent of enabling works that could be implemented under permitted development rights and guided the client through the NI planning process.

Results

• Planning permission was granted in August 2022, just 4 months after the submission of the planning application.
• The facility will manufacture metal beverage cans and be highly sustainable. It will provide 40,000 sq m of floorspace and is expected to create 160 direct jobs onsite, alongside 30 jobs indirectly through associated businesses.