The Woodsmith Project
The Woodsmith Project is one of the most innovative mining developments in the world today, setting a new standard for how mines are designed and operated in the 21st century. It will access the world’s largest known deposit of polyhalite, a natural mineral fertiliser.
Project Overview
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The project consists of five key elements:
01
Harbour facilities and associated development at Teesside, granted by Order of the Secretary of State under Development Consent Order ref: SI 2016 No. 772 (dated the 10 August 2016) and as subsequently amended by a non-material change on 25August 2022.
02
A Mineral Transport System (‘MTS’) consisting of a 37 km long tunnel that will transport the polyhalite from Woodsmith Mine to a Materials Handling Facility at Wilton International, Teesside, also approved under the Planning Permissions referenced above.
03
A Materials Handling Facility approved by RCBC under ref: R/2014/0626/FFM (dated 14 August 2015) and as subsequently varied under ref. R/2018/0139/VC (dated 29 May 2018);
04
A Port Handling Facility and associated overland conveyor approved by RCBC on 6 June 2025 under ref. R/2024/0098/ESM
05
Harbour facilities and associated development at Teesside, granted by Order of the Secretary of State under Development Consent Order ref: SI 2016 No. 772 (dated the 10 August 2016) and as subsequently amended by a non-material change on 25August 2022
Construction Progress
Although we have temporarily slowed down construction over the last year, we continue to make good progress and currently have 1,100 people working on the project. The tunnel boring machine, which is being used to construct the underground MTS, has reached over 30km from its starting point at Wilton International.
The project has broken a world record for the longest single tunnel drive using one tunnel boring machine, and the tunnel is now 80% complete. At Woodsmith Mine, the two 1,600 metres deep shafts are being sunk using innovative shaft boring roadheader machines. We are continuing to sink the service shaft, which is now over halfway to its total depth, whilst the production shaft has been temporarily paused at over 700m.
The two intermediate shafts along the tunnel route at Lockwood Beck and Ladycross Plantation have both been sunk to their full depths of 340 metres. The tunnelling crews are now accessing the tunnel boring machine from Ladycross Plantation.