The government has announced that the Environment Agency will be the lead environmental regulator for a project to produce lithium at a former china clay pit in Cornwall.
The Environment Agency is to lead environmental regulation of the Trelavour Lithium Project by Cornish Lithium.
It is part of a pilot which aims to speed up regulatory approval for major growth projects.
Cornish Lithium plans to produce high-grade lithium by redeveloping the china clay pit in St Dennis.
The scheme is intended to provide lithium in an environmentally responsible way for the growing UK battery industry.
It will help to build a more sustainable domestic supply chain and support the transition away from fossil fuels.
Lithium is central to supporting the UK advanced manufacturing sectors and the clean energy transition.
The Environment Agency has been appointed as the primary point of contact for Cornish Lithium throughout the planning, permitting and licensing process.
The Agency will coordinate input from regulatory partners, including Natural England, so that advice is aligned and provided as early as possible.
The aim is to reduce duplication, avoid unnecessary delays, and give developers greater clarity.
The new approach will not reduce the level of environmental protection in place, and the Environment Agency will consider all risks to the environment and the local community in making their decisions.
Environment Agency area director Steve Marks said: “Having one clear environmental regulator will help us work more effectively with our partners across government to regulate projects such as Trelavour Lithium.
“This new approach aims to reduce duplication and avoid unnecessary delays, whilst ensuring we apply learnings from the impacts of Cornwall’s mining heritage to protect and improve the environment. “
