Together with Sundsvall and Timrå municipalities, Torsboda Industrial Park has presented two land areas as possible for Kaunas Metals' establishment of their first steel plant outside Lithuania. The areas that now compete with Umeå are located next to Delta Terminal in Söråker and at E14 in Töva.

Kaunas Metal has not yet decided whether it is Umeå or Sundsval/Timrå they will do business with. This summer, the company signed letters of intent with both Umeå and Torsboda Industrial Park regarding its establishment where recycled steel will be turned into rebar. The letters of intent show that the parties agree to negotiate but are not a guarantee of agreement.

The original place in Torsboda Industrial Park sales dialogue was the north side of the E4 at the industrial park in Torsboda but the offer has now been changed to two other areas.

“In conversations with our potential customer, it has become clear that the ability to transport goods by rail directly into their factory area is a very important factor,” says Cain Dotson, business developer Torsboda Industrial Park. We therefore worked together with Sundsvall and Timrå municipalities to develop alternative locations for our offer.

Söråker and Töva

The main offer is an area in Söråker next to Delta Terminal. The land was formerly partly used as industrial land and is today owned by Timrå Municipality and a private company.

As a second option, Sundsvall Municipality has offered to extend a previously started planning process in an area between the E14 and the railway in Töva. The land is partly owned by the municipality and a private operator is interested in developing the area.

“What is good for Timrå is good for Sundsvall and vice versa. Our hope is that Kaunas Metal will choose one of the places we have offered so that jobs and a new type of industry will come here,” says Stefan Dalin (S), Chairman Torsboda Industrial Park and Chairman of the Municipal Board of Timrå.

Jobs ahead

The deal with Kaunas Metal will be moved by agreement from Torsboda Industrial Park to Sundsvalls or Timrå Municipality depending on the choice of area.

“If we achieve the establishment of Söråker in accordance with the master plan, we will start the work with a detailed planning process. Then we test whether the land is suitable for the purpose,” says Douglas Helsing, City Architect Timrå Municipality. The land has long been designated for industries.

“If it is appropriate to proceed with the alternative in Töva, Sundsvall Municipality will entrust the process to a private operator who will then be allowed to engage in dialogue with property owners and stakeholders to test the feasibility of the project,” says Andreaz Strömgren, City Building Director of Sundsvall Municipality.

Announcement before the end of the year

Kaunas Metal has expressed that they want to reach a decision before the end of the year.

“I am proud that we can quickly meet emerging needs and that we have several really good possible areas for establishment in our municipalities. Further processes will show whether we can reach any of the sites,” says Niklas Säwén (S), Vice Chairman of Torsboda Industrial Park and Chairman of the Municipal Board of Sundsvall. Together we will go further.

Facts:
Detail plan — A detail plan shows what land in a particular area will be used for. The development of detailed plans is an open process regulated by the Planning and Construction Act. Those deemed to be affected by a draft detailed plan are given visibility into the work and have the opportunity to comment on the proposal during the process.

In the picture: On the left you can see the approximate area of Söråker in blue, on the right the plan area in Töva circled with a blue line.

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