A DECISION on whether a £1.5bn potash mine can be built in a national park has been further delayed, over environmental issues.

The North York Moors National Park Authority was initially due to examine Sirius Minerals’ York Potash plan to mine up to 2.6bn tonnes of the mineral from Sneaton, near Whitby last month, but said it needed more information from the firm.

The authority said yesterday it needed more time to consider a further survey and monitoring work by the firm relating to the potential impacts of the mine on the ground water, springs and streams near the proposed minehead at Dove’s Nest Farm and the surrounding protected moorland habitats.

Planning legislation requires that further public consultation on new information has to take place and 21 days will be scheduled into the new timescale to allow for this, starting on Monday (June 10).

A spokeswoman for the authority said: “The authority and York Potash both believe this extension is in the best interests of achieving a robust and sound planning decision, based on objective information which will enable a full assessment to be made on the planning impacts of the proposal on the national park.”

Chris Fraser, the firm's managing director, said it welcomed the extension to the planning process.

He said: "We remain focused on achieving the positive determination that will enable the project to progress rapidly towards production and will unlock all of the benefits to the local, regional and national economies.”

The planning committee meeting to decide upon the plan has been rescheduled from July 2 to July 29, at Sneaton Castle, Whitby.