Report

The Woodsmith Project - S73 Project Amendments : Planning Statement

“Variation of condition 5 of planning permission NYM/2014/0676/MEIA to allow minor material amendments relating to that part of the development at the Woodsmith Mine site (formerly known as Doves Nest Farm and Haxby Plantation), including; re-design of foreshafts and shaft construction methodology, changes to building layout and shaft access arrangements, revisions to construction and operational shaft platform levels, revisions to location and layout of surface water attenuation ponds, revisions to groundwater management arrangements and amendments to internal access road arrangements.”

Non-Material Amendments

Since the above planning permissions were granted, the NYMNPA and RCBC have approved various non-material amendments to the approved planning permissions in their respective areas (under Section 96A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990).

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Construction Phases

Construction works at the mine, MTS shafts and portal have been pursued under a series of ‘Phases’, which has involved the discharge of conditions for each Phase relating to the above permissions. In some cases, conditions have only been partially discharged, pending full discharge once the final Phase of development has been reached.

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The Importance of the Development

As outlined within the original planning application, the approved development is of strategic importance, delivering national, regional and local economic benefits, as well as contributing towards satisfying a growing agronomic need. The materials submitted with the original application set out the exceptional circumstances associated with the project, necessary for a scheme of this nature to be positively considered within a National Park. Whilst the detail of the scheme was the subject of assessment and scrutiny, the key characteristics of the Woodsmith Project were central to the planning justification for the application. Combined, these characteristics were acknowledged as exceptional circumstances sufficient to justify major development in the National Park. The requirements of the Major Development Test, as defined at paragraph 190 of the National Policy Framework (2025), the pre-eminent planning policy relevant for the scheme, were considered, on-balance to be satisfied.

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Need for the Amendments to the Approved Scheme

Since acquiring the Woodsmith Project in 2020, Anglo American has carried out a comprehensive technical review to optimise the project’s design and delivery. This review has identified a series of engineering enhancements aimed at ensuring the project’s long- term safety, efficiency, and operational reliability.

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In determining the final design, Anglo American has focused on:

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• Meeting its high operating and safety standards; and

• The responsibility to ensure the Project is sensitive to its location in the National Park and RCBC area.

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