Report

The Woodsmith Project - S73 Project Amendments : Planning Statement

Operational expenditure will also support a substantial supply chain and additional employment through induced spending. The updated assessment indicates that operation of the development could support approximately 3,090 indirect jobs and 740 induced jobs . These effects are assessed as permanent and major beneficial at regional and combined authority levels, while remaining negligible at the national level due to the scale of the UK economy. Operational activity will also generate significant economic output. Total GVA arising from operations is now estimated to exceed £2 billion, including direct, indirect and induced effects, representing a substantial contribution to the UK economy. In addition, the development will generate significant export revenues from polyhalite production, helping to reduce the UK’s trade deficit. Once operational, annual exports with a value of £2.3 billion per year are anticipated, which would reduce the UK’s balance of trade deficit by 10%. These effects are therefore assessed as major beneficial and permanent at the national level. Overall, the project will deliver significant economic benefits through employment, supply chain expenditure, exports and tax revenues, strengthening local, regional and national economic performance. At the end of the project’s operational life, the loss of employment associated with mine closure would result in adverse socio-economic effects. However, these are considered inevitable and long-term, and their significance is reduced when assessed using standard economic appraisal approaches that discount future effects. The impacts are therefore assessed as negligible. A Mine Closure Plan will be prepared to minimise potential effects, including retraining and redeployment opportunities and maximising opportunities for local businesses during decommissioning. The assessment concludes that the proposed amendments to the approved development would not materially change the nature of the socio-economic impacts identified in the 2014 ES, but would increase the scale of economic benefits. This accords with Chapter 6 of the NPPF; policies M22 and S03 of the North Yorkshire Minerals and Waste Joint Plan; Policy LS4 of the Redcar and Cleveland Local Plan and; the principles of the Tees Valley Joint Minerals and Waste Core Strategy DPD.

6.96

6.97

6.98

6.99

6.100

6.101

Shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment

Strategic Policy E of the NYM Local Plan states that the quality and diversity of the natural environment within the North York Moors National Park will be conserved and enhanced. All development will be expected to ensure that natural capital is used in efficient and sustainable ways and demonstrate, where appropriate, how it makes a positive contribution to natural capital and its ability to provide ecosystem services. Strategic Policy H also requires development to maintain and, where appropriate, enhance features of ecological value and recognised geodiversity assets. Policy D07 of the North Yorkshire Minerals and Waste Joint Plan states that development will be permitted where it can be demonstrated that, having taken into account any proposed mitigation measures, there will be no unacceptable impacts on biodiversity or geodiversity. The level of protection provided to international, national and locally designated sites are outlined in parts 2-8 of the policy.

6.102

6.103

Pg 42