Government pulls defence of Cumbria coalmine
The government has withdrawn its case against a legal challenge to a controversial new £200m coal mine in Cumbria.
Angela Rayner, the new Secretary of State (SoS) for Housing, Communities and Local Government says there was an “error in law” in the decision to grant planning permission for the mine in December 2022.
Consequently, the government will not now be defending two legal challenges next week (16-18 July) against the Woodhouse Colliery under-sea mine mine. originally lodged by Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC), and has instead informed the court that the decision to grant planning permission should be quashed.
Previous Secretary of State Michael Gove granted planning permission to the controversial proposed new coal mine in Cumbria in December 2022.
If that is agreed by the court, the planning application will go back to the Secretary of State to make a fresh decision.
The two legal challenges to the previous decision to grant planning permission for the mine are still expected to take place at the Royal Courts of Justice on the 16th July – unless West Cumbria Mining also concedes the case.
In its last public statement on the planning application, in April, West Cumbria Mining said it “continues to focus on preparatory works prior to commencement of real construction activity, no later than early 2025.”
West Cumbria Mining have been contacted for comment and this story will be updated when they do so.
The company insists they will deliver a “significant world class scheme” with an investment of more than £200m, all privately funded, during construction.
West Cumbria Mining is owned by Singapore registered Woodhouse Investment Pte Ltd, its ultimate parent company is Cayman Islands registered EMR Capital Resources Fund.
EMR is chaired by mining veteran Owen Hegarty, former managing Director of Rio Tinto Asia and its Australian copper and gold business from 1989 to 1994.
Friends of the Earth climate co-ordinator, Jamie Peters, said the plan for a mine was “destructive, polluting and unnecessary“ and welcomed the government position.
“We hope the court agrees, and that the mine is then rejected when the Secretary of State reconsiders the application.
“Friends of the Earth will continue to stand alongside SLACC and the other community groups in Cumbria who have fought so bravely to halt this mine.
“The new government must now ensure that areas like West Cumbria get the jobs and investment they urgently need so that people living there can reap the benefits of building a clean, green and affordable future.”
Maggie Mason of SLACC said: “Building the mine on an old chemical site close to homes and the Irish Sea was also risky. West Cumbrians deserve jobs that don’t cost the earth”.
