Project Amendments
During the course of construction of the Project, we identified a number of design enhancements that are necessary to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the project for the long-term. This is not unusual for a project of this scale.
The proposed Life of Mine changes will continue to meet our high operational and safety standards, whilst limiting the project’s impact on the National Park, and delivering long-term benefits in the area.
Woodsmith Mine
In summary, the amendments to our ventilation, cooling and logistics requirements, which are necessary to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the mine, will increase the number of buildings at the site.
However, the development footprint will be consolidated to one area of the site and will still be screened by the landscaping and planting plans. See more detailed information about our amended proposals below.
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3D visualisation of the mine
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Existing View & Construction View
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Operational View Year 1 & Operational View Year 15
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Ventilation system
The main amendment is the requirement to alter the location of the currently approved ventilation shaft and for it to be sunk to the Mine production level of 1600m. A temporary winding tower will be needed to sink the shaft, which will be removed when the Mine is operational. Associated surface development will include a ventilation fan station, air coolers, refrigeration plant and heat exchange system.
The amendments are the outcome of a review of the Mine’s ventilation requirements which identified a need to increase both the ventilation airflow and cooling load to maintain safe workplace temperatures.
Relocation of permitted buildings
The welfare building, carpark, security / gatehouse and substation will be moved to different parts of the site.
Moving the welfare building, which is currently approved to be constructed in the woodland area close to the site entrance off the B1416, helps to consolidate surface development to one area of the site, behind the landscaping and planting.
Retention of current temporary structures
We propose to retain a limited number of temporary buildings currently used to support construction activities, including the existing temporary winder houses for the Production and Service Shafts, to meet our operational requirements for maintenance, warehousing and surface water treatment.
The existing four fire and process water tanks will be retained. Two additional water storage tanks are proposed and will be used for the supply for fire and service water for both above ground and underground mining facilities during construction.
Landscape Bunding
The proposed Mine buildings will continue to be visually screened by landscaped bunds, which have been redesigned and reconfigured.
Amended logistics requirements
Peak daily movements of HGVs during the construction and operation phases are anticipated to be a maximum of:
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70 deliveries (140 two-way HGV movements per day) during construction. This is a slight increase compared to current permitted level of 126.
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100 deliveries (200 two-way HGV movements) for c.6 months as polyhalite is transported during the construction phase and;
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40 deliveries (80 two-way HGV movements) during full operations, which is consistent with our level of HGV movements to date.
It is important to note that peaks are presented for worst case analysis in the Supplementary Environmental Statement. Long-term averages are expected to be lower, as they have been throughout the construction period to date (average of 80 two-way movements, versus current permitted level of 126). Logistics will continue to be managed in accordance with the existing controls and collaboration with the established Traffic Management Liaison Group.
The following developments are proposed to support the logistics and operation of the mine:
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A logistics hub will be constructed as part of the Service Shaft building to facilitate the supply of consumables, materials, and spare parts during operations.
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A staging area to accommodate nine HGVs, together with a small parking area for visitors, will be constructed adjacent to the Gatehouse.
Intermediate Shafts
We have been able to construct the MTS using just one tunnel boring machine, when we had previously planned to use up to five. This means we can formally remove from our planning application the tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch shafts at Ladycross Plantation and Lockwood Beck. Instead, the planning application seeks to retain the existing shafts that were sunk to facilitate tunnel construction by the single TBM.
This amendment has the additional benefits of removing the requirement for temporary 45m tall winding towers during construction, and the use of these sites to permanently store excavated material from the tunnel at both sites. The application seeks the removal of development at the Tocketts Lythe site in its entirety.
Ladycross Plantation
Apart from the changes described above, the proposals for Ladycross Plantation are very similar to those previously approved. When the project is operational the shaft will be covered with a small agricultural style building.
An emergency rescue winch, electrical infrastructure and a surface water pond will be the only other permanent development. The locations of the shaft and access road have moved from their original locations in our existing permission.
Lockwood Beck
The existing permission for operations is very similar to Ladycross Plantation. Apart from removing the need to use the site to store the excavated material, other proposed changes include limited additional surface development, including fire water tanks and pump station, wastewater storage tanks, and an electrical substation.
The headhouse, which will cover the shaft and be designed in an agricultural style, will incorporate a small office, and emergency exhaust fans. This has been sensitively designed to suit the site’s agricultural setting and is partially screened.
