Report

The Woodsmith Project - S73 Project Amendments : Planning Statement

Landscaping and Earthworks

No changes to the current arrangements at Ladycross Plantation are proposed during the construction phase. In operation, the topography of the site, where altered during construction, will be returned to the original elevations, except for the platform surrounding the headhouse. The wider construction platform will be removed and the area rehabilitated, and the area outside the operational platform will be subject to ongoing habitat/biodiversity enhancement, including creation of areas of grassland, scrub, trees and open water. The main access road, car park adjacent to the headhouse and the headhouse loading bay will be paved.

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Lockwood Beck MTS Site

The proposed amendments at Lockwood Beck are summarised below.

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Shaft and Tunnel Access

This application seeks to regularise and retain the constructed narrow diameter shafts for the duration of the life of the mine in the absence of the TBM launch shafts. As for the Ladycross Plantation site, the 45m temporary headhouse is no longer required and has been removed from the proposals. Upon completion of tunnelling and tunnel fit out, a permanent 21m x 22m x 8m high operational headhouse will be constructed around a modified, single level alimak. The headhouse will incorporate an emergency exhaust ventilation enclosure (5m x 8m) adjoining the headhouse structure on the northern side. The headhouse structure will be precast concrete with insulated walls and roof cladding, subject to final design. A loading bay is included on the western side of the building for equipment loading and unloading into the headhouse. The emergency winch and generator enclosure (7.2m x 3.6m x 2.4m high) established under a discharge of condition application associated with planning permission NYM/2017/0505/MEIA will be retained through construction and into operation. The wider construction infrastructure including construction offices, welfare facilities, gatehouse/security cabin, substation, batteries, switch room, water storage tanks, workshop, compressor shed, secure storage units and construction carpark will be removed over the duration of the construction phase. The permanent operational headhouse, office/welfare area, tally hut and emergency exhaust fan will remain for the operational phase to provide maintenance access to the tunnel. There will be three parking bays, a paved unloading area in front of the main access door into the headhouse and dedicated walkways around its perimeter. The exhaust fan enclosure adjoining the headhouse structure will operate only for routine maintenance purposes or in the event of an emergency within the MTS tunnel where personnel are working/situated beyond the Lockwood Beck shaft/adit.

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