Summer decision expected for £1bn mine in North York Moors

The company behind a controversial £1bn mining operation in a Yorkshire national park said it plans to submit a fresh planning application no later than July as it revealed a deal has been struck over the costs of delays to the scheme.
Computer simulation of the proposed mineComputer simulation of the proposed mine
Computer simulation of the proposed mine

Yesterday park bosses said talks with the developer suggested that it intended to extend the proposed area of mining to some areas outside the boundary of the North York Moors National Park.

A bid to create a potash mine in the national park has stalled owing to growing concerns over the project’s impact on the environment.

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The delays have led to concerns about the escalating costs for the national park of dealing with such a major application and last year its chief executive, Andy Wilson, told the Yorkshire Post, the total cost of dealing with the current planning application had reached £600,000 – although the bill was set to rise “by a very substantial figure.”

He confirmed the authority was faced with an unexpected bill running into a six-figure sum after the decision on the mine’s planning application was once again delayed at a time when there was huge pressure on its budgets because of Government funding cutbacks.

Yesterday it was confirmed developer York Potash had agreed to contribute to the park authority’s costs to allow it to continue pre-application discussions about the proposed mine at Sneaton, near Whitby. Such an agreement was also in place for its previous application.

A statement from the North York Moors National Park Authority yesterday said it...”welcomes the withdrawal of the existing planning application by York Potash Ltd” and the signing of a new pre-planning agreement.

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It added: “Determination of the existing application, submitted in February 2013, was deferred at the request of York Potash in July 2013 following legal advice the company had received. The authority had been ready to determine the application in July 2013 but the application has been held in abeyance at the company’s request since then.

“Its withdrawal by the company in a letter dated 10 January 2014 resolves uncertainty over the status of the application for the authority, consultees and the local community.”

It said that the company has confirmed its intention to extend the proposed area for mining to include some areas outside the national park boundary and said it would be working with North Yorkshire County Council.

“The authority approaches the new application with an open mind and the proposed development will be determined in the context of its local plan policies and Government policy set out in the National Planning Policy Framework,” the statement added.

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Those behind the proposals said submitting a fresh application will simplify existing planning documents and allow the company to focus its case around matters of outstanding concern to the National Park Authority.

Chris Fraser, managing director and CEO of York Potash’s parent company, Sirius Minerals said: “Agreements like this are examples of best practice and will relieve some financial burden from the local authority. We look forward to continuing the pre-application engagement to facilitate the most complete planning application possible.”

Last year York Potash announced its application had been delayed to ensure environmental information for the entire project – including the proposed mine, pipeline, materials handling plant and port - was all available at the same time.

Concerns have previously been raised the applications were too fragmented and a spokesman for Sirius Minerals, said at the time it was hoped the revised timetable for the project would offer a “more holistic approach.”

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Additional information to support the planning application for the mine is set to be submitted in July 2014. Applications for the pipeline, materials handling plant and portside facility are due to be submitted to the appropriate authorities shortly afterwards.

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