Walkers Crisps has struck a £3.5 million deal to buy land next to its main Leicester factory for a new potato washing facility.
It wants to centralise its washing and sorting operations, creating 40 new jobs, on the 6.4-acre site off Thurcaston Road, in the north of the city.
The deal with Leicester City Council will depend on gaining planning permission and developer legal agreements, and once secured, construction could get under way this summer.
Potatoes would be brought in from around the UK and Walkers says a centralised operation would cut transport movements and the amount of water used to prepare the potatoes for processing.
It said soil removed from the potatoes would even go back to farmers’ fields – and potato peelings turned into fertiliser.
Under the terms of the deal, a new £2.25 road – paid for by the council – would be constructed to serve the new plant and open up access to adjoining council land owned at Ashton Green, creating future employment opportunities.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Walkers Snack Foods are a long-established and important employer, so I’m delighted that this agreement will help them expand and consolidate their operations in Leicester.
“This site at Ashton Green is within an area allocated for employment land in our local plan and Walkers have offered us a very fair price, so it’s a great deal for Leicester on every level.
“The new facility will operate sustainably and create new jobs, while the new estate road will help us unlock the potential of further development land at Ashton Green that will lead to many more jobs for local people.”
A council spokeswoman said: “Leicester City Council is the principal landowner and promoter of Ashton Green, a sustainable urban extension to the north of Leicester comprising 320 acres of greenfield land.
“When complete, it will provide up to 3,000 homes, employment land, retail space and around 13 acres of green space.”
