Construction Progress
Construction of the new Woodsmith Mine has made substantial progress. At the main mine site, near Sneatonthorpe, shaft sinking is well underway for the production and service shafts which have reached 712m and 904m respectively. As the shafts are excavated, the screening mounds around the site will be extended to help reduce the visual impact of the mine buildings on the landscape.
The Mineral Transport System consists of a 37km long concrete lined tunnel containing a conveyor belt, which transports the polyhalite from Woodsmith Mine near Whitby to the Mineral Handling Facility on Teesside for processing and shipping. The tunnel is over 80% complete and is currently around 30.5km long.
Along the route of the tunnel, two new surface access and ventilation shafts have been built, one just outside the National Park near Lockwood Beck reservoir, and one at Ladycross Plantation, near Egton. The whole project currently employs around 1000 people.
Section 106
The National Park Authority’s role in monitoring the impacts of this very large development continues, as does our work on delivering off-site ‘Section 106’ projects to compensate for the harmful impacts of the mine on the National Park. The projects fall into three main categories and are delivered right across the National Park.
The first is Woodland Creation to help offset carbon emissions of the mine’s development and operation. The second is Landscape and Ecology projects to compensate for the impacts on the landscape, including improvements to natural habitats, tranquillity, rights of way, historic buildings and traditional boundaries. Finally, Tourism delivers campaigns at regional, national and international level as well as offering small business grants, to promote the North York Moors and help offset the impact the development may have on how visitors perceive the National Park.
The s106 contributions for these projects will continue for the planned life of the mine allowing us to deliver many long term projects which benefit residents, visitors and businesses, and allow us to work with landowners and large organisations to generate even wider reaching improvements.
So far, as part of the Woodland Creation scheme. 500 hectares of woodland has been created which equates to over 325,000 trees planted. Within the Landscape and Ecology category, over 1000 projects have been delivered including 23km of traditional boundaries repaired or created, 270 hectares of woodland management, including conversion from conifer plantation to broadleaf, 163 degraded historic structures protected or restored and over 50km of public rights of way enhanced for a wider range of users.
On the Tourism side, 87 tourism business have been supported with grants while annual major domestic marketing campaigns are delivered by the Authority's Marketing Team to encourage visitors to the North York Moors. Partnership work also continues with Visit York, building on previous 'two centre break' campaigns focused on regional and the London visitor looking for a city break combined with adventure/nature and the outdoors. Relationships with the travel trade in western Europe have continued to position the North York Moors as a premier destination for visitors, particularly focussing on activities such as cycling and food related tourism. .
A Dark Skies Friendly lighting scheme continues to work across the park supporting business and communities to reduce light pollution to benefit astrotourism, night time ecology and to enhance our status as a dark skies reserve.
Woodsmith Mine Compensation and Mitigation - projects delivered 2017/18 to 2025/26
- 497,12 hectares of woodland creation
- 323,247 trees planted
- 23,756 metres of traditional boundaries restored
- 47 studies, reports and plans
- 1,079 landscape trees planted
- 87 tourism businesses or schemes supported
- 49.50 km of Public Rights of Way improved or enhanced
- 163 degraded heritage assets protected, renovated or restored
- 26 traditional skills training days with 354 attendees
- 317.85 hectares of natural environment management, creation and enhancement
- 105 access improvements installed
- 269.28 hectares of woodland and forestry enhancement
Last updated: 03 Nov 2026