28 March 2025
Luke Myer MP went more than 300 metres underground this week as he visited the Anglo American Woodsmith Project at Lockwood Beck in East Cleveland, seeing firsthand the scale of one of Britain’s most ambitious industrial projects.
The visit followed earlier meetings with project leaders and local partners, as work continues to progress on the mine and its 23-mile underground tunnel network, which will transport polyhalite to Teesside for processing and export. Luke was taken down the 360-metre shaft at the Lockwood Beck site to view construction of the tunnel, which had already reached 29km – setting a world record for the longest tunnel drive using a single boring machine.
While the mine itself is located beneath the North York Moors, the project has a significant presence in East Cleveland, with the tunnel running through the constituency and local workers supporting construction and supply chains. Once complete, the site is expected to support thousands of jobs and play a major role in Teesside’s export economy.
Luke has been actively championing the potential of polyhalite in Parliament, pressing ministers in both the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Business and Trade to recognise its value for British agriculture and food security. He has also worked with neighbouring MPs Anna Turley and Alison Hume to push for polyhalite to be recognised as a critical mineral, reflecting its importance to the UK’s long-term industrial and agricultural resilience. He continues to work closely with Woodsmith to support their push for new investment from global partners to allow the project to scale up.
During the visit, Luke met with senior leaders from Anglo American’s Crop Nutrients team to discuss the project’s progress and its wider benefits, including ongoing work with farmers, the food industry and research institutions. Polyhalite – a naturally occurring fertiliser containing potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur – has been shown in trials to improve crop yields while reducing environmental impact, offering a more sustainable alternative to imported fertilisers.
The visit also brought together local leaders and stakeholders from across the region to discuss how the project can deliver long-term economic benefits, including skilled jobs, investment in local communities, and opportunities for the next generation of workers.
Luke Myer, Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said:
“This site really brings home the sheer scale and ambition of this project – the longest tunnel in mainland Britain, being constructed right here in East Cleveland. What’s happening beneath our feet is extraordinary, and it has the potential to deliver real, lasting benefits for our area.
“I’ve been making the case in Parliament for polyhalite as a British resource that can strengthen our food security and support our farmers, and it’s clear to me that Woodsmith has a big role to play in that future.
“I’ll keep working with the company, local partners and government to make sure this project delivers for our communities—through good jobs, strong supply chains and long-term investment here on Teesside.”