South Crofty Tin Project Awarded £4.19M Grant for Bartles Foundry Development

£4.19M grant to kickstart construction at South Crofty site

A major investment has been announced at South Crofty as the Bartles Foundry site receives up to £4,190,500 in grant funding through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme.

The funding, managed by Cornwall Council and backed by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, will cover up to 62% of the £6.8 million total cost of developing new workshops, stores and offices at the site. These facilities will support South Crofty as it moves closer to production.

The grant also covers the cost of purchasing 4.5 acres of land from Cornwall Council, as previously announced on 1st April 2025. Planning approval for the Bartles Foundry development was granted in January 2025. The project follows a 2024 SPF part-funded study which confirmed the site’s suitability for development.

Backed by council and government

Don Turvey, CEO and Director of Cornish Metals, said: “We are delighted to be awarded this grant funding by Cornwall Council, demonstrating ongoing local support for South Crofty and following on from the investment by the UK’s National Wealth Fund earlier this year.

“This funding will enable the construction of the Bartles Foundry project that will support South Crofty as we move into the underground development phase, which will provide local employment opportunities during the construction and operational phase.”

Cllr Tim Dwelly, Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Investment, added: “South Crofty is a big priority for us. Not only are they supporting high-quality well-paid jobs in the area, they are also helping the security of the whole UK by strengthening the domestic supply of essential minerals. I am proud to support this next step towards bringing tin mining back to Cornwall.”

A key piece of Cornwall’s mining future

South Crofty is a historic, high-grade underground tin mine with existing infrastructure, including multiple shafts. Cornish Metals holds full planning permission for underground mining through to 2071, and for the construction of a new processing facility and site infrastructure.

The mine would become the only primary producer of tin in Europe or North America. Tin is classified as a Critical Mineral by the UK, US and Canadian governments due to its role in nearly all electronic devices and electrical systems. Most of the world’s tin currently comes from China, Myanmar and Indonesia.

With strong community, regional and national backing, and a growing local workforce, the South Crofty project has the potential to create up to 320 direct jobs.

More information on the South Crofty Preliminary Economic Assessment can be found in the April 30, 2024 news release and the Technical Report titled “South Crofty PEA”.