By james art 
The Weardale lithium facility will be located on Brownfield, former cement work in Eastgate, near Stanhop, for the processing of geothermal groundwater from existing deep, high -performance, production wells nearby.
The Eastgate site has been in sleep for more than 20 years since the closure of cement work.
The application identifies four components to the proposals:
1. The existing wells for groundwater abstraction
2. A new underground corridor for the pipeline from below and above ground to take water abstracted from existing wells to the existing concept of river wear.
3. Justification of the pipeline through the river wear, using the former conveyor border bridge, which previously linked Eastgate’s career with the former Weardale Cement Works website.
4. The construction of a pilot lithium for the processing of the former Weardale Cement Works website in two phases.
The application was amended after its initial submission in response to the responses to the consultations and the operational changes to the layout of the site.
She now describes the plans for temporary development, but with a permanent planning permit, she is looking for the routes of the pipeline. Underground structures will remain in place and will require additional consent for future use.
Meanwhile, the duration of development has been reduced from permanent permission to a permit sought for 15 years for the pilot plant. In December 2024, it was confirmed that all aboveground structures would be removed at the end of development.
It is believed that the scheme will create hundreds of jobs throughout its life.
The applicant said the scheme is a significant opportunity for Eastgate regeneration with the development of local healing treatment with high -tech medicinal facilities for the processing of lithium melee mineral resources found in deep groundwater in Weardale.
It follows more than three years of work in the area, including the testing of numerous direct lithium technologies to extract lithium to find the optimal way to extract lithium from geothermal grounding waters. Weardale Lithium was the first company to successfully extract lithium from the main waters in the northern Penin Orefield.
Weardale Lithium added: “The scheme will provide significant economic investment and jobs directly in Weardale, as well as support long-term aspirations for battery growth and development in the Northeastern region and the United Kingdom.
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“It is important to note that from the beginning of the Eastgate project, even in the field test phase, Weardale Lithium will produce lithium carbonate from the battery. It is a selling end product that can be used directly by manufacturers of cathode active material, a major component of battery production.
“The regeneration of the Cement Works Eastgate website, which will be achieved through this application, has the potential to have a significant positive impact on Weardale and the wider region. Proposals have strong public support and demonstrate that this will not lead to unacceptable environmental effects. ”
The Durham County Planning Committee will vote on Wednesday (February 5).