Today, Sappi Maastricht and the Belvédère Wijkontwikkelingsmaatschappij (Neighborhood Development Company, WOM) of the Municipality of Maastricht have signed an agreement that will finalize the sale of the southwestern part of the Maastricht paper mill site to the WOM. The sale and subsequent purchase of this land creates a win-win situation for both parties as well as to the local area and will have no negative impact on employment at the Sappi site.
Investment in Sappi Maastricht
Sappi Maastricht, specialize in making coated graphical paper and have been manufacturing on the Maas site in Maastricht for 170 years (since 1850). Due to the worldwide trend for digitization within communications, the market for graphic paper is shrinking. In order to survive in this shrinking market and to guarantee continuity and employment, Sappi Maastricht started three years ago with the transition into luxury packaging board. This activity mainly takes place on the north side of the company site. The southwestern part is therefore less intensively used and was eligible for sale to the WOM. Ferdinand Koster, director of Sappi Maastricht commented: "This sale makes it possible for us to invest in the future of Sappi Maastricht. We will use the resources to improve internal logistics and additionally improve the sustainability of our production processes. "
Unique opportunity for the city
The purchase of the southwestern part of the Sappi site offers the municipality of Maastricht the opportunity to stretch the city center to the north and to further build on the Sphinxkwartier. Councilor Gert-Jan Krabbendam (Urban Development and WOM shareholder): "With this purchase we can fulfill the long-cherished wish of extending the Maasboulevard. By continuing the road around the Timmerfabriek, the Bassin bridge and Boschstraat will become more accessible. In this way we invest in the quality of life and attractiveness of the Sphinxkwartier." Councilor John Aarts (Finance and shareholder WOM) is also satisfied with the agreement:" In this way we invest twice in our city. Not only in terms of urban development, but also in the business climate and in job retention. I am delighted that Sappi is reinvesting the resources it obtains in its Maastricht mill"
New main entrance to Sappi on the north side has already been realized
During the relocation of the Noorderbrug, a new main entrance to the Sappi site has been established for freight traffic via the Commandeurslaan. The old main entrance via the small bridge on the Fransensingel will eventually be completely decommissioned to make way for the future connection between the Frontensingel and Maasboulevard.
Planning for the coming years
Sappi will relocate its activities currently taking place on the sold land to the remaining Sappi site and will also undertake new construction. They estimate that they will take approximately two years to apply for the necessary permits, the internal relocations and preparations for the delivery of the sold sites and buildings.
During this time, the WOM is making preparations for the construction of the road, the housing to be built and completion of the necessary spatial procedures. The basic principle is to coordinate both schedules as closely as possible with each other. The aim is to be able to construct the new road after about two years in combination with the construction of the tram. The housing construction is expected to take place in 2025/2026, following the construction of the road.
ENDS
About Sappi Maastricht BV
Sappi Maastricht BV is one of the 10 paper production mills in Europe and specializes in high-quality coated paper with application in the graphics sector and packaging market. We produce 270,000 tons of paper per year. Sappi's European R&D organization is also located in Maastricht and we manage the Nanocellulose Pilot Plant on the Chemelot site.
More information about Sappi Maastricht Mill: https://www.sappi.com/maastricht-mill
For questions about Sappi Maastricht:
John Donners, communications manager john.donners@sappi.com. +31 6 29 58 05 38
About The WOM and the Belvédère Maastricht project
The Belvédère Wijkontwikkelingsmaatschappij (Neighborhood Development Company, WOM) is a public-private partnership for the development of a new city section in Maastricht.
The Belvédère Maastricht project is an extensive spatial development project in the northwestern part of Maastricht. An area of almost 300 hectares that stretches from Het Bassin in the Maastricht city centre to the Belgian border at Smeermaas. An area full of (old) industry, historic fortifications and unique nature. Restructuring of this special part of Maastricht has been underway since the turn of the century. More information about the Belvedere projects www.belvedere-maastricht.nl
For questions about the Belvédère Wijkontwikkelingsmaatschappij /Municipality of Maastricht:
Erwin Gerardu, Communications Advisor, Erwin.gerardu@maastricht.nl, +31 6 21 55 78 35
About Sappi
Sappi is a leading global provider of sustainable woodfibre products and solutions, in the fields of Dissolving pulp, Printing papers, Packaging and speciality papers, Casting and release papers, Biomaterials and Bio-energy. As a company that relies on renewable natural resources, sustainability is at our core. Sappi European mills hold chain of custody certifications under the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™ C015022) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC/07-32-76) systems. Our papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50 001 and OHSAS 18001 certification. We have EMAS registration at 5 of our 10 mills in Europe.
Sappi Europe SA is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE), headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with 12,500 employees and 19 production facilities on three continents in nine countries, 37 sales offices globally, and customers in over 150 countries around the world.
Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com.