Report

Woodsmith Project: Planning History Overview

This planning history note identifies the key ‘parent’ planning permissions relating to the mine and MTS shafts; the various non-material amendments that have been secured in respect of those and; details of the numerous construction phases that have been pursued against the ‘parent’ planning permissions through the discharge of planning conditions.

Planning Permissions

NYM/2014/0676/MEIA

In 2014 a planning application (reference NYM/2014/0676/MEIA) was submitted to the North York Moors National Park Authority (NYMNPA) for permission to develop a polyhalite mine and underground Mineral Transport System (MTS): “The winning and working of polyhalite by underground methods including the construction of a minehead at Dove's Nest Farm involving access, maintenance and ventilation shafts, the landforming of associated spoil, the construction of buildings, access roads, car parking and helicopter landing site, attenuation ponds, landscaping, restoration and aftercare and associated works. In addition, the construction of an underground tunnel between Doves Nest Farm and land at Wilton that links to the mine below ground, comprising 1 no. shaft at Doves Nest Farm, 3 no. intermediate access shaft sites, each with associated landforming of associated spoil, the construction of buildings, access roads and car parking, landscaping, restoration and aftercare, and the construction of a tunnel portal at Wilton comprising buildings, landforming of spoil and associated works at Dove's Nest Farm & Haxby Plantation, Sneatonthorpe (proposed minehead); underneath 252 sq km of the NYMNPA (winning & working of minerals); a corridor extending underground from the edge of the NP boundary to Wilton International Complex (mineral transport system); Lady Cross Plantation near Egton, Lockwood Beck Farm near Moorsholm, Tocketts Lythe, near Guisborough (intermediate shaft sites); site within the eastern limits of the Wilton International Complex, Teesside (tunnel portal).” (Ref: NYM/2014/0676/MEIA).

Permission was granted subject to 95 planning conditions and the signing of a S106 Agreement.

R/2014/0627/FFM

In tandem with the above, Recar & Cleveland Borough Council (RCBC) granted planning permission on 19 August 2015 (ref. r/2014/0627/FFM) for the areas of development within its remit (including the Lockwood Beck and Tocketts Lythe intermediate shaft sites and the tunnel portal at Wilton International). The permission was granted subject to 35 conditions, with the description of development the same as for NYM/2014/0676/MEIA. It is this permission which has been implemented at Lockwood Beck and the MTS Portal site at Wilton. No works have commenced at Tocketts Lythe.

NYM/2017/0505/MEIA

On 6 February 2017, the NYMNPA granted planning permission for an amendment to planning permission ref. NYM/2014/0676/MEIA, comprising various design changes at the minehead:

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Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Limited (trading as “Lichfields”) is registered in England, no. 2778116

Registered office at The Minster Building, 21 Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7AG

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