Rockwool takes next step towards new manufacturing facility

Leading global non-combustible insulation manufacturer Rockwool has submitted a ‘Section 73’ application to Birmingham City Council as the next step in building a ‘state of the art’ second UK manufacturing facility in the West Midlands. The new factory would support hundreds of construction jobs and create new, long-term skilled roles.

The facility will boost supply capacity for UK and Republic of Ireland customers, while also supporting Rockwool’s ambitious global sustainability plans. Rockwool, which has operated out of South Wales since 1979, has strong foundations in the UK and intends to build a second plant on the Peddimore site, near Minworth, northeast of Birmingham.

The site already has outline planning permission for manufacturing in general. This Section 73 application is requesting permission to vary some of the details in the current permissions to suit Rockwool’s specific proposal. If given the go-ahead to adapt the permissions, Rockwool plans to submit a more detailed “Reserved Matters’ application later in 2025 or early in 2026.

Community engagement programme
If both applications are approved, construction could begin in 2026 with the facility becoming operational in 2029. Since plans for the new facility were announced in November 2024, Rockwool has carried out the first phase of a community engagement programme to share initial information and listen to feedback.

Rockwool plans to carry out a second phase of engagement once more detailed plans and designs have been developed. Information about the plans is available to view via the website here and will be updated as the proposal develops.

Nick Wilson, managing director of Rockwool UK & Ireland, said: “Since we announced our intentions to expand the business into the West Midlands, we have had an opportunity to share our plans with the community and are very grateful to those who have provided feedback. We are taking this into consideration as we develop the plans and have included the community’s observations so far in our Section 73 application to the Council. We look forward to meeting with community members again in the coming months.”