The group is thought to have two options: apply for a Regional Assistance Grant through the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA), or go for a Coalfields Enterprise Grant because its new operation would help to regenerate an area suffering from high unemployment following the decimation of the mining industry.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is unable to comment on any cases until it has approved a grant, while the EMDA would only say that it was not in talks with Howitt at this stage.

The identity of Howitts major financial backer for the project is still unknown, and rumours persist that a German player could still be planning to enter the UK gravure market.

The wall of secrecy that the group has erected around the plans prompted one source this week to describe it as like working for the CIA.

The groups plans to build the 56,000m sq gravure superplant near its current Sutton-in-Ashfield site could, however, even be approved by the end of this month.

Its planning application is currently being assessed by Ashfield District Council and could be heard at a committee meeting on 28 November, according to Peter Wilkinson, case officer in the councils planning department.

Equator Print, a subsidiary of the John Howitt Group, submitted the application on 11 October in conjunction with Miller Birch, the construction arm of home-builder Miller Group.

Howitt is also talking with Ashfield District Councils environmental health department about the installation of a solvent-recycling unit at the plant to handle the toluene used in the gravure process. The firm requires a permit to recycle the substance.

Wilkinson also said he had received little feedback from the local community regarding Howitts plans.

Story by Gordon Carson

Pictured: Howitt - wall of secrecy