[OFFICIAL]
2.30 Policy LS4: South Tees Spatial Strategy sets out objectives relating to the economy, connectivity, and the environment in the area. Policy objective “m.” confirms the council and its partners will aim to support development related to the ‘North Yorkshire Polyhalite Project’. 2.31 The Redcar and Cleveland Growth Strategy 22 aims to strengthen and diversify the economy, emphasising developing the workforce and the economy, as well as committing to develop the economic infrastructure and improve the quality of place. 2.32 The Strategy identifies key employment sector specialisms, the second largest is the mining of chemical and fertiliser minerals. The project to extract polyhalite is seen as a key economic asset within the borough strategy. 2.33 The Scarborough Local Plan 23 which was drafted originally to guide the development of the area until 2032 (prior to the merger into the unitary authority) highlighted the importance of the Woodsmith Project, citing that it had potential to deliver well over 500 jobs for Scarborough residents as well as having potential to deliver indirect and induced employment benefit through supply chain industries and support services. 2.34 North York Moors National Park Authority Local Plan (July 2020) 24 has three sets of objectives. These fall under their “first purpose principles” and relate to the protection of the special qualities of the National Park “that visitors and residents enjoy 25 ”. The “second purpose principles” relate to the use of the park for tourism and recreation. The Economic and Social Duty relates the statutory duty the authority has to foster economic and social wellbeing and support proposals that “should deliver economic benefits to the local communities that host them, in line with the duty to foster the economic and social wellbeing of local communities” 26 . The Park Authority is mindful to emphasise that protection of its first purpose principles must be its priority. In considering proposals for “major development”, such as the Woodsmith Project, they must carefully weigh up the impacts of development against evidence of national need and evidence that the positive impacts of the development are genuinely “exceptional. 27 ” 2.35 In the case of demonstrating ‘national need’ this may be the need for the product of the development, for example, the mineral in the case of a mining proposal which cannot be met elsewhere, the need for the wider national economic benefits that would flow from the development, or the need for a nationally significant piece of infrastructure or facility that cannot be accommodated elsewhere and which provides a long-term benefit to the nation. Need generally will be considered by the Authority in assessing proposals but greater weight will be given to a national need for a particular product or function that requires a location within the National Park as the need cannot be met elsewhere.
22 Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council . (2016). Redcar & Cleveland Growth Strategy. 23 Scarborough Borough Council. (2017). Scarborough Borough Local Plan.
24 North York Moors National Park Authority. (2020). North York Moors National Park Authority Local Plan. 25 North York Moors National Park Authority. (2020). North York Moors National Park Authority Local Plan. Para 5.4 26 North York Moors National Park Authority. (2020). North York Moors National Park Authority Local Plan. Para 5.4 (10) 27 North York Moors National Park Authority. (2020). North York Moors National Park Authority Local Plan. Para 3.35
Quod | Woodsmith Project | Economic Impact Report | March 2026
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