Dalradian Goldmine Public Local Inquiry – Overview
A planning application (reference LA10/2017/1249/F) for underground valuable minerals mining and exploration, surface level development including processing plant and other associated development (“The mine”) was submitted to the Department on 27 November 2017. The application was determined to be a development of regional significance under Section 26 of the Planning Act (NI) 2011. The application was accompanied by Environmental Statements (“ES”).
Following a request by the Department in January 2019, Further Environmental Information (“FEI”) was submitted by Dalradian Gold Ltd. The submission also included amendments to the minerals proposal with provision of environmental, other information and updated supporting documentation in relation to these amendments. The Environmental Statement accompanying the application was also updated.
Following a further Departmental request in September 2020, Further Environmental Information (FEI) was submitted by Dalradian Gold Ltd to the Department. The submission included the provision of environmental information and updated supporting documentation in relation to these amendments. The Environmental Statement accompanying the application has also been updated, as has the accompanying Waste Management Plan.
In addition to the main planning application submitted to the Department, in December 2019 the Department called in two powerline applications (“The powerlines”) from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (LA10/2019/1386/F) and Derry City and Strabane District Council (LA11/2019/1000/F). These applications, in combination propose, to provide the electricity supply to the proposed mine. The applications were accompanied by Environmental Statements (“ES”).
Copies of the Environmental Statements and Further Environmental Information can be found at the links below:
Planning Application Drawings and Documents
A full suite of current drawings for each application and other planning documents can be found at the following link:
Public Local Inquiry
In September 2021, the Minister for Infrastructure determined that the planning applications for the Goldmine Project should be robustly scrutinised in a public forum. Accordingly, under Regulation 26 (10) and 29 (6) of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, the Department requested that a Public Local Inquiry (“PLI”) be held by the Planning Appeals Commission. DfI Roads and DAERA, dealing with related consents, namely the application to abandon the Crockanboy Road and the Discharge Consent and Abstraction Licence applications respectively, also caused public local inquiries under their own specific legislation. The PAC, decided that, in the interests of efficiency, that it would hear these in conjunction with the planning applications. Details of the DfI Roads and DAERA consents with regards the conjoined PLI can be found at the following link:
Statements of Case and Rebuttals
As part of the Public Inquiry Process, all involved parties were required to submit to the PAC, a Statement of Case (“SoC”) by the 18th of October 2024. A SoC is a comprehensive document structured on a topic basis and consisting of all the points and evidence to be relied on in the Public Local Inquiry process. The PAC provided the Department with copies of the other parties SoCs in relation to the planning applications only, on 25th November 2024. Parties who submitted statements of case were given an opportunity to comment on the other parties’ cases in a rebuttal statement. The PAC provided the Department with copies of the other parties’ rebuttal statements, in relation to the planning applications only, on 4 December 2024. Copies of the Statements of Case and Rebuttal Statements, including the Department’s and the applicant’s, can be found at the following link:
Transboundary Consultation
The Department's Transboundary Consultation was undertaken with the EEA State in accordance with the Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 & the Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (NI) 2017. Transboundary documentation can be found at the following link:
Correspondence with PAC
Relevant correspondence between the Department for Infrastructure (Planning) and the Planning Appeals Commission in relation to the Dalradian Curraghinalt Project Public Local Inquiry can be found at the following link:
Please note that this website will continue to be updated to ensure accuracy and to reflect any additional information that may be relevant. Content is therefore subject to change.