Plans to build the UK’s largest lithium extraction facility in County Durham are set to go ahead after being approved by councillors.
Between 20 and 50 jobs will be created by the Weardale Lithium project, which will be located on the former cement works at Eastgate, near Stanhope. The project aims produce battery-grade lithium carbonate – a key material for the UK’s net zero ambitions – from geothermal groundwaters.
The Eastgate site has been dormant for more than 20 years since the closure of the cement works. Durham County Council’s planning committee approved plans for the site on Wednesday.
Stewart Dickson, CEO of Weardale Lithium, said: “This is a significant milestone for Weardale Lithium and the UK’s electrification ambitions. The project aligns with the UK Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy and Battery Strategy, which recognises lithium as essential to the energy transition and meeting increasing demand for battery-grade lithium carbonate from the growth of electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems.
“This planning approval for the UK’s largest lithium extraction plant is a notable step to establishing a robust, long-term and economically viable supply chain of critical minerals. The North East is well placed to be a centre of growing domestic lithium production capability as the region has all the requisite enablers to deliver our borehole to battery strategy.
“With planning approval granted, we can now move forward and scale-up confidently producing battery-grade lithium carbonate on site using a proven end-to-end process. This will make a significant contribution to the transition of the UK towards a carbon-zero economy.”
The application was amended since its original submission in response to consultation responses and operational changes to the site layout. It now details plans for temporary development but with permanent planning permission sought for the pipeline routes. Below-ground structures will remain in place and require further consent for future use.
Meanwhile, the duration of the development was reduced from permanent permission to permission sought for 15 years for the pilot plant. In December 2024 it was confirmed that all above-ground structures will be removed at the end of the development.
Hundreds of jobs are expected to be created to work on the scheme in the coming years.
John Shuttleworth, county councillor for Weardale, said: “I fully support this, it’s going to bring jobs to the area, and it can only be good.”
It is hoped the project will create a local partnership between Weardale Lithium and a similar local company, Northern Lithium. Nick Pople, Northern Lithium’s managing director, said: “The two companies are not in competition with each other and conversations have already begun about how we might collaborate going forward to ensure we can accelerate the delivery of a secure, sustainable, domestic supply of lithium at scale from the North East region.”
Approving the application, councillor Craig Martin praised the sustainable development. He said: “When I drive through Weardale at Eastgate, the former cement works are an absolute blot on the landscape, it is just a barren concrete desert that looks horrible. Any redevelopment of that site is a massive tick in my box. We have to be supportive of anything that supports the wider economy.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/jobs-hope-county-durham-lithium-30942068
