AkzoNobel plans to close its manufacturing units at Prudhoe in Northumberland and Slough in Berkshire when the factory opens.

Workers at both sites will be offered the chance to apply for one of the 140 available jobs at the new plant, but there is no guarantee that the 89-strong workforce at Prudhoe will keep their jobs.

“We’ve always had a factory in Prudhoe but the business has outgrown its surroundings and it is no longer fit for purpose,” said Williams. “Everybody can re-apply for their jobs and I hope that the majority of the Prudhoe workforce is successful in their applications but we have to look externally as well.

“It will be a very different site to those at Prudhoe and Slough and employees will require new range of skills that will be taught through training programmes.

“We’ve always had a good working relationship with people in the North East and we looked the length and breadth of the country before deciding that we wanted to consolidate our two factories at Prudhoe and Slough in Ashington.”

It will take up to two years to build, during which time between 200 and 250 construction jobs will be created. The factory will consume 60% less energy than the present works.