The historic South Crofty tin mining project in Pool, Cornwall, is set to receive a significant boost after being awarded £4,190,500 through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, marking the largest single private sector investment by the programme to date.

Delivered by Cornwall Council, the funding comes from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and forms part of a wider £6.8 million development by mine owner Cornish Metals. The project will support the construction of new workshops, storage facilities, and offices at the Bartles Foundry site, which secured conditional planning approval in January.

These new facilities are vital to the underground development phase of the project, supporting efforts to bring the iconic South Crofty tin mine back into production and creating skilled employment opportunities in the region.

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The investment also includes the previously announced acquisition of 4.5 acres of land from Cornwall Council. It follows a 2024 feasibility study, also backed by Good Growth funding, which confirmed the site's potential for redevelopment.

With this latest contribution, the Good Growth Programme will have invested over £10 million into Cornwall’s critical minerals infrastructure as the four-year, £186 million initiative nears its conclusion in March 2026.

Tin is classified as a Critical Mineral by the UK Government due to its essential role in electrical devices and infrastructure. With the majority of the global tin supply currently coming from China, Myanmar, and Indonesia, the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy highlights the importance of domestic sources like South Crofty in enhancing national security and supporting the shift to a low-carbon economy.

Cllr Tim Dwelly, Cornwall Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Investment, said: "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."