Agenda item

Development of a pilot Lithium processing plant using groundwater abstracted from existing ground water wells and associated infrastructure

The Committee received a report of the Principal Planning Officer with regards to an application for the development of a pilot Lithium processing plant using groundwater abstracted from existing ground water wells and associated infrastructure at the site of Former Weardale Works and Quarry, Eastgate, DL13 2LG (for copy see file of minutes).

The Principal Planning Officer gave a detailed presentation which included a site location plan, aerial photograph, site photographs from various locations and various proposed layout plans.

The Principal Planning Officer recommended that condition 24 be altered to read the following;

Prior to their installation or erection precise details of the materials, colours, finishes and construction details for all buildings, external plant, structures and machinery including photovoltaic panels shall be agreed in writing with the Mineral Planning Authority and the development carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Councillor Shuttleworth addressed the Committee as Local Member and in support of the application.  He advised that the closure of the former cement factory in 2002 had a significant impact on the local area with 57 families moving out of the area and as a consequence 70 children had been removed from the school roll, significantly impacting the local education system.  Weardale and Cornwall were the only two places in the UK with the potential for lithium extraction and he had been advised that the proposal would create up to 80 jobs.  He hoped that the Applicant and Objector would work together in future and offered to facilitate a meeting.

Mr Pople addressed the Committee on behalf of Northern Lithium and in objection to the proposal.  He confirmed that overall he welcomed the Officer’s findings, particularly that the importance of a domestic supply of lithium had been acknowledged.  The report referred to cooperation between the two companies and he felt it important to clarify that they were not in competition and conversations had already taken place about how they could collaborate going forward to ensure they could accelerate the delivery of a domestic supply of lithium at scale, from the north east region.

However, Northern Lithium had concerns about the proximity of one of the proposed pipeline routes at Ludwell Farm.  Mr Pople noted that a commissioned engineering report had dismissed their concerns but he advised that the report had been carried out without any knowledge or detailed information about the construction and use of the site.  He advised that this could simply have been dealt with by a condition.

A secondary issue was that Northern Lithium already had rights on the land that the Applicant had identified as shown in the plan, as a route of their own pipelines.  These were the only two points that he wished to make and overall Northern Lithium supported the application.

Mr Dickson addressed the Committee on behalf of the Applicant.  He had prepared a number of slides which he presented to Members.  This was an important application which saw the sites rich industrial past as a foundation for future green economy.  Members were shown proposed site plans and he described as innovative, eye catching and an important economic and social project.  The cement works had closed more than 20 years prior and it would bring back a number of technology orientated future facing jobs.  The site was centred around the former cement works and it made use of a former brownfield site.  He continued that this was a pilot plant and the project itself was thoroughly thought out.  If successful it would unlock significant inward investment from the most capable technology around the world.  It was the first step to unlocking a significant resource potential for Weardale and would add £1b gross value to the region.  The number of jobs were expected to grow incrementally.

In response to a question from Councillor Currah, Mr Dickson described the technology used to extract lithium ions and converted it to a useable product.  He advised that the Applicant was the only site permitted to carry out this end to end process.  Any leftover waste water would be removed for industrial disposal in a north east facility.  If the pilot was successful, the operation would move towards full scale production.  In response to a further question, he advised that if the pilot was successful, further on site works would be required however this would be subject to a separate planning application.  The pilot was expected to take place for 18-24 months and it was a key enabler to enable the operation to be scaled up with confidence.

In response to a question from Councillor Atkinson, Mr Dickson advised that there was no risk to the stability of the land. 

With regards to future development, the Principal Planning Officer clarified that the application was for the development of a pilot lithium processing plant and Members were only being asked to grant permission for the named development and structures.  A planning condition set out a time limit for the named development and the removal of buildings.

Councillor Atkinson had queried the points made by Mr Pople in relation to interference of the pipeline and the Principal Planning Officer confirmed that condition no. 10 required details of all underground pipework and this was to be submitted prior to installation and agreed by both the Local Authority and Environment Agency.  She added that land ownership was not a matter for the Local Authority to consider through the planning process and if landowner permission was required, this was a matter for the Applicant.

The Chair advised that all properties in the area would be supplied with spring water and queried whether the development would affect the supply.  It was common to run out of spring water and this took time to build up.  He asked for assurances that this would not affect residents at the nearby farm and across the wider area.  Mr Dickson confirmed that the water abstracted from boreholes was from a different supply and not fit for consumption.

Councillor Jopling acknowledged the importance of the application, to assist with self-sufficiency and also the value of the end product.  She queried the toxicity of the water and Mr Dickson advised that water at this depth would be harmful for public consumption and therefore it had to be disposed of in a safe way, however it wasn’t toxic.

The Principal Planning Officer advised that a local resident had raised concerns and these were addressed within paragraphs 354-357 of the report.  The Environment Agency had recommended a number of planning conditions.  In addition the development would be subject to a licensing regime.

Councillor Boyes confirmed that when reading the report, he had sensed conflict between the Applicant and Norther Lithium, however the main objection was with regards to the proximity to the pipelines and he queried whether there was anything to mitigate the concerns raised.

Mr Pople suggested that this could be dealt with by a condition to ensure the route of the pipeline would not impede on their own operation.  Mr Dickson advised that there was a willingness from both companies to collaborate and move forward.  He confirmed that the Applicant had taken a diligent approach and he did not believe that there was any conflict.  The condition about the pipelines would be adhered to in full.

In response to a number of questions from Councillor Currah, Mr Dickson estimated that around eight HGV’s per week would arrive to remove the waste water and he confirmed that they were not proposing to remove the two sycamore trees at the entrance to the site.

Councillor Elmer queried the scale of works if the scheme demonstrated commercial viability and Mr Dickson advised that the former cement works would be the central hub for all of the water in the area.  At the end of the phase, both companies would be required to drill further wells and dissipate.  Any further wells would require a pipeline, but all processing would be done on site to maintain the visual area.

The Planning & Development Manager reminded the Committee that if the trial was successful and the Applicant wanted to upscale the project, this would require a further application.  In addition, there had been a number of questions about whether both parties could work together.  These were logical questions, but neither of the issues were legal considerations for the planning determination process.

The Planning & Development Lawyer added that comments had been made by the representative of Northern Lithium regarding the proposed pipeline proximity and a condition was proposed to ensure the planning authority would retain control of the exact location, which was unknown.  Future details were required.  In addition any infringement of property or mineral rights, was not a planning law matter and could not be afforded any weight.

Councillor Martin agreed that the purpose of the Committee was to determine the existing application.  The landscape in Weardale was of significant value for anyone that enjoyed the countryside.  The former cement works was a blot on that landscape and any redevelopment to put it back into use or make it more attractive, should be supported, as well as the extraction of minerals.  He moved the recommendation with the amendments reported by the Principal Planning Officer.

Councillor Atkinson also considered only the planning merits.  He referred to the scheme having only one objection which had been dealt with by a condition and in addition the support from the Local Member who knew the area well.  The scheme had economic benefits and work was being undertaken to identify whether the extraction process would work.  He seconded the motion to approve the application.

Councillor Elmer stated that money was being invested in the analysis or a pilot that would result in the growth of a new industry in the region.  If the UK developed its own capacity for lithium, this would reduce reliance on foreign markets.  The application included due diligence on the impact on the landscape and ecology, and the disposal of waste water.  He supported the scheme and hoped it would be a success.

Councillor Bell was familiar with the site and agreed with the Local Members comments regarding the local employment benefits it would bring, after losing the cement works.  The landscape was a jewel in the county, the business was sustainable and he credited the planning team for bringing it to Committee for approval.

Councillor Boyes was also in full support of the application.  He was from an area which had been devasted by the closure of the pits and as the Local Member had alluded to, Weardale had went through a similar situation on closure of the cement works.  This was an exciting new industry with significant economic benefits and the Committee needed to support this type of scheme.

Councillor Currah supported the application and advised that it was important to ask broader questions as it provided Members with the knowledge to share with residents.  He often cycled in the area and was therefore aware of the mix of existing industrial buildings.  This facility would include a set of large, neat, farm buildings and he therefore had no objection and hoped that the scheme would be successful.

Resolved

That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions outlined in the report, the amendment reported by the Principal Planning Officer, and the completion of an agreement under Section 106 of The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to secure monitoring fees in connection with Biodiversity Net Gain.