Imerys British Lithium

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​​​HT Ecology provided the ecological input for the Imerys British Lithium project near St Austell, the largest lithium extraction project announced in the UK to date. The scheme will convert a former China clay quarry into a working lithium quarry, producing battery-grade lithium carbonate for the electric vehicle market. 

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We undertook the habitat surveys across the site, carried out the Biodiversity Net Gain assessment using the statutory metric, and designed the off-setting strategy, consulting with Cornwall Council ecologists throughout to agree the approach and ensure the assessment would stand up to scrutiny. A development of this scale and profile called for close involvement with the project team, working to minimise impacts on the site's unique habitats while creating landscape-scale biodiversity restoration across the wider landholding. The work, which is on-going, demonstrates our capability to lead the biodiversity element of nationally significant infrastructure and minerals projects.