Significant preparation works continue at pace after British Steel secured planning permission to build an electric arc furnace at its Scunthorpe site.
The planning approval, by North Lincolnshire Council, is a major step forward in the company’s proposals to secure the future of steelmaking in Scunthorpe.
British Steel is pressing ahead to discharge planning conditions and undertake environmental and technical studies to ensure its proposals can be delivered as soon as possible while discussions with the UK Government continue.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The council’s planning committee has approved the application for British Steel to build an electric arc furnace on its site in Scunthorpe. The application met local and national planning policies.
“Work is ongoing to consider site masterplan opportunities to attract green jobs to the 300-acres surplus land at the steelworks.
“There is an opportunity to create something new, attracting innovative technology companies here to Scunthorpe on an underdeveloped industrial heritage site.”
At the beginning of April, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council approved British Steel’s application to build an EAF at the company’s Teesside site.
The new furnaces would replace the aging iron and steelmaking operations in Scunthorpe, which are responsible for most of the manufacturer’s CO2 emissions. The company proposes maintaining current operations until a transition to electric arc steelmaking.
