Environment & Climate

North Yorkshire Council permits extraction of Drax ash mound

BBC News reports that Drax Power Ltd received approval to extract ash under restricted operating hours.

Updated Sep 10, 2026 · 10:47 UTC1 reports

The short version

North Yorkshire Council approved plans by Drax Power Ltd to remove up to 23.5 million tonnes of ash near Drax Power Station.[BBC News]
Extraction operations are scheduled to run until 2045, followed by full site restoration by 2055.[BBC News]
Following local concerns over dust and noise, planners restricted operating hours and required 65% of the material to move by rail.[BBC News]

Drax Power Ltd received planning approval to extract up to 23.5 million tonnes of ash from a disposal site adjacent to Drax Power Station.[BBC News]
Site extraction is set to continue until 2045, with restoration planned to conclude by 2055.[BBC News]
Work on the site is restricted to 08:00 to 20:00, excluding Sundays and bank holidays.[BBC News]
A planning condition requires 65% of the extracted ash to be moved via rail, with the remainder carried by road.[BBC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.