Chinese construction workers allowed to live at Corby's Solway Foods factory for two years

The former Solway Foods / Food Utopia site in Godwin Road shut last year with the loss of 300 jobs. Now the new owners, Sun International Recycling Group (SIRG), wants to turn it into a plastic recycling plant.

But in order to do so, they need to employ the services of a number of engineers from China who will put together the machinery.

The new owner had informed Corby Council that they would seek prior approval, under permitted development rights, for them to use one of the buildings as temporary bedrooms for those workers.

On Friday, Corby Council gave their plan the nod.

Now SIRG will plough ahead with the plan to convert a building into 14 bedrooms as well as common rooms and bathrooms for its workers.

Their application said: "Sun International Recycling Group Limited (SIRG), has now acquired the site and is in the process of re-developing it, with potential for 70-80 new jobs being created.

"The construction works, in the main, involve the installation of industrial machinery to facilitate the recovery of plastic. During the estimated construction period of approximately 18 – 24 months, the Company wish to convert their existing offices into workers’ accommodation.

"There are a number of engineers/consultants that are involved in the construction build-out that travel from the overseas’ plant manufacturer’s in China and need temporary local accommodation whilst the construction works take place.

"It is estimated that the workers’ accommodation will occupy approximately 15-20 people as a maximum. The workers will be arriving from China to UK airports where they will be picked up in cars, by employees of SIRG."

The plan to convert Solway into a recycling plant will likely have to be subject to its own planning application.