A NEW sugar beet processing plant could open in North Yorkshire, around a decade after the British Sugar plant in York closed.

Early stage planning documents show Al Khaleej International - linked to Al Khaleej Sugar of Dubai - is eyeing a site next to the Allerton Park waste incinerator, near the A1/ A59 junction.

The company has asked Harrogate council planners for environmental opinions before it puts in a full planning application.

If the new plant goes ahead, the company claims it would create employment for 200 to 300 jobs, and would buy sugar beet from 3500 farmers mainly across the North East of England.

Planning documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council show the plant would process 24,000 to 36,000 tonnes of sugar beet a day during the harvest season from September to March, with 24 hour a day warehouse and packaging operations.

The plant would produce 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of refined sugar per day, with construction to start in early 2018 and business to open on 2020.

The papers also show waste heat, steam and power from the neighbouring waste recovery plant could be used in the sugar beet processing.

Since the British Sugar plant in York closed around 10 years ago, the nearest factory for growers around York has been in Newark.