Sirius considering fresh application for potash scheme
SIRIUS Minerals, the company seeking planning approval for the York Potash mine near Whitby, said today it is considering withdrawing its current planning application for the project and resubmitting a fresh application.
The company said submitting a fresh application, rather than “refurbishing” an existing application, would simplify planning documentation and would also allow the company to focus its case around those matters of outstanding concern to the North York Moors National Park Authority.
Sirius said it has also notified the National Park Authority that it may have to extend the ‘red line’ boundary of the planning application to cover additional parts of its area of interest where it holds additional mineral rights.
These areas near Cloughton and Whitby fall outside of the National Park boundary and as a result a new planning application would be required to be made to both the North Yorkshire County Council and the National Park Authority.
The applications would be identical and both the County Council and the National Park Authority would determine the parts of the proposal that fall within their remit.
The County Council is one of the largest mineral planning authorities in the UK and will determine the application to it as part of its normal planning process.
In the meantime the company said it is progressing various planning work streams and studies as previously announced and is holding regular meetings with the National Park Authority.
Managing director Chris Fraser said: “The company is making good progress towards the approvals needed for the York Potash Project and the involvement of the County Council is unlikely to impact our current timescales given its minerals planning experience.”
