A DECISION on the future of a proposed £1 billion potash mine in the North York Moors has been delayed after the company has been asked for further information.

The plans were to be discussed by the North York Moors National Park Authority at a meeting on May 21.

But the authority is to consult again with statutory stakeholders, including the Ministry of Defence which has raised concerns over the possible impact on RAF Fylingdales, and the Environment Agency, once further information has been received.

The meeting has been provisionally pushed back to July 2. Sirius Minerals, the company behind the York Potash Project, has agreed to provide the outstanding information by April 21 and that it was planning to hold a webcast explaining the planning process.

Chris Fraser, managing director and chief executive of Sirius, said: “It is in everyone’s best interest that the application is determined properly and robustly and, although there has been a huge amount of work that has gone into the application, it’s important that key consultees are comfortable with the technical details. We remain confident in the strength of the application, the substantial benefits it can deliver and the progress of this important project.”

He said further information requests were still possible but they viewed it as unlikely. The company said the overall project timeline remained unchanged and it anticipated that, subject to onshore mining approval, early site works could begin before the end of the year.