Planning approval for return of steelmaking to Teesside

Councillors had received a “hybrid” application seeking planning permission for the steel manufacturing facility intended for British Steel’s Lackenby works and outline permission for associated buildings, apparatus and infrastructure.

Members of Redcar and Cleveland Council’s regulatory committee unanimously approved the application, although some expressed concerns over environmental impacts and the implementation of a myriad of planning conditions attached to the permission granted.

The detailed design is yet to be finalised and will be subject to further so-called reserved matters approval at a later stage.

Plans first unveiled last year envisaged a vast structure which would be more than 64 metres tall and 34,000 square metres in size with the furnace generating its heat from an electric arc between electrodes, in contrast to a traditional blast furnace which uses coke to supply the large amount of energy needed.

The former Redcar blast furnace and associated SSI steelworks closed in 2015 with the loss of more than 3,000 jobs.

While not on the same scale, the new facility, which will use green technology to melt scrap and produce new steel, has been predicted to create hundreds of good quality, well paid jobs.

British Steel president and chief executive Xijun Cao said: “The proposed installation of electric arc furnaces in Scunthorpe and Teesside is central to our journey to a green future.

“Our owner, Jingye, is committed to the unprecedented investment decarbonisation requires.”

The company said it hoped to deliver its proposals – which are subject to “appropriate support” from the Government – at the earliest opportunity and swift and decisive action was needed for it to ensure a sustainable future.

Both new plants will eventually replace the ageing iron and steelmaking operations at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site which are responsible for the vast majority of its CO2 emissions.

A political row had broken out over the Teesside plans with Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Simon Clarke submitting a joint letter to the council’s managing director John Sampson calling for them to be expedited and the application heard last month.Former steelworks blast furnace, Redcar. (Image: LDR)

Planning committee chairman Councillor Tristan Learoyd previously said their demands were a “deviation from proper process” and criticised political interference.

Speaking at the committee meeting which determined the application, Councillor Philip Thomson said there was the potential for pollution from the furnace if not addressed properly.

Cllr Thomson referenced the “complexity” of the 30 odd conditions attached to the planning permission.

He said he was not in any way attempting to delay what could be an “important, critical development”, but the committee had a responsibility to examine how the conditions were going to be interpreted and imposed.

Cllr Learoyd queried the “woolly” wording of some conditions and said he generally wanted to see “well baked” plans coming forward for consideration.

Councillor Stephen Martin said the documentation with the plans had given him “headaches” and suggested many of the conditions attached were there for safety reasons.

Matt Stockwell, a production director with British Steel, said the furnace would be “economically productive” and “environmentally attractive”, and a significant boost for the area.

He said the move towards electrification was aimed at cutting the company’s carbon output by 70%.

Mr Stockwell said 250 direct jobs would be created during the eight-month long construction of the plant with a significant number of high quality jobs to follow resulting from its operation.

Phil McCarthy, a director of Lichfields acting as agent for the applicant, said there had been two rounds of public consultation with no objection received by statutory authorities.

Cllr Learoyd asked about provision of solar panels and electric vehicle charging points for the “energy intensive” plans and sought assurances over these, and said he wanted to see more trees to replace ones being removed for the development.

He complained that there had been pressure from the “wealthy and powerful” over the application, using emotional connections to the history of steel making in the area.

Cllr Learoyd said: “Along with senior officers, I was placed under unacceptable duress to break the law by those wanting a cheap political point.”

Nonetheless he added that he had great pride in the application being approved.

Council leader Alec Brown said he was “over the moon” and he wanted to quickly see local people employed on the 19 hectare development site.

Jacob Young, Conservative MP for Redcar, said: “I am delighted that this application has now passed and paves the way for steelmaking to make its return to Teesside.

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“During the industrial revolution, our blast furnaces built the world.  “Now with the latest in electric arc technology, we can lead the green industrial revolution too.”

Fellow Teesside Conservative MP Mr Clarke added: “Bringing back steelmaking was of course one of the Tees Valley mayor’s election pledges and has been a shared goal of all Conservatives on Teesside ever since the closure of SSI.

“Now, without any further distractions, we can see that dream becoming a reality along with the jobs and prestige that comes with it.”