Exploratory drilling for gypsum near Costock can go ahead under permitted development rules, Nottinghamshire County Council has confirmed, following a formal notification from the operator.
In correspondence dated 17 March 2026, Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions, through its mineral surveyor, set out plans to drill two boreholes on land east of Wysall to explore gypsum deposits at a depth of up to 100 metres. The company indicated work was expected to begin on 12 April 2026 and last for up to four weeks.
The proposal was submitted under Class K, Part 17 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015, which allows certain mineral exploration works to proceed without a full planning application, subject to specified conditions. These include limits on the height of structures, requirements to avoid damage to trees, and obligations to restore the land once works are complete.
In a response dated 8 April 2026, Nottinghamshire County Council, acting as the Minerals Planning Authority, confirmed it had reviewed the notification and associated plans, including a site drawing showing the borehole locations. The authority concluded that the proposal met the relevant conditions set out in the GPDO and confirmed it would not issue a direction to restrict the works.
The council’s letter states that no structure associated with the development should exceed 15 metres in height, and that operations must be carried out in accordance with the submitted details. It also requires that no trees are removed or damaged during the works, and that within 28 days of operations ending, any structures are removed, the boreholes sealed, and the land restored as far as practicable to its previous condition. The development must also cease no later than six months after the relevant period begins.
The confirmation means the exploratory drilling can proceed without the need for a separate planning application, provided the conditions are adhered to. The council has requested to be notified when the works have been completed.
Exploratory boreholes are typically used to assess the presence and quality of mineral resources before any future proposals are brought forward. Any subsequent plans for extraction or long-term development would require separate consideration through the planning process.
