Firm behind controversial Whitehaven coalmine withdraws planning application
Environmentalists are celebrating what looks like the end of controversial plans for a new Whitehaven coalmine after the company behind it withdrew its planning application.
Planning permission had originally been granted for the West Cumbria Mining scheme, and, in September 2019 the Government declined to call in the plans, effectively signalling the green light for the £175m project.
But there were calls from environmentalists to reconsider the decision in 2021. However, in December 2022, the Government again backed the Woodhouse Colliery scheme.
In July 2024, however, following the General Election, the new Labour government withdrew its support and in September that year the High Court ruled the plans should be quashed.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government began reassessing the planning application by writing to interested parties, including Friends of the Earth and West Cumbria Mining. It extended the deadline for the mining company by two weeks after they did not respond.
And today (April 4), the Ministry confirmed that the company had withdrawn its planning application.
A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “West Cumbria Mining has withdrawn its application for a coal mine at Whitehaven and the government will have no further role in this case.”
The letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says: “You have asked us to treat the application reference 4/17/9007, dated 31 May 2017 as withdrawn. We are therefore taking your letter of 31 March 2025 as confirmation that your client has withdrawn the application.”
Responding to the news, Tony Bosworth, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “We’re delighted this long running saga has finally drawn to a close. Congratulations to all the brilliant local campaigners who fought so powerfully to stop this mine.
“The previous government should never have given the green light for this highly polluting and unnecessary coal mine in the first place – and West Cumbria Mining should have pulled the plug on it last year when planning permission was comprehensively quashed and coal licenses were refused.
“The focus must now switch to ensuring local people get the green jobs they so urgently need – areas like West Cumbria have been left behind for far too long.”
West Cumbria Mining, owned by Singapore registered Woodhouse Investment Pte Ltd, and who’s ultimate parent company is Cayman Islands registered EMR Capital Resources Fund, insisted to TheBusinessDesk.com last year that they would deliver a “significant world class scheme” with an investment of more than £200m, all privately funded, during construction.
EMR is chaired by mining veteran Owen Hegarty, the former managing Director of Rio Tinto Asia and head of its Australian copper and gold business from 1989 to 1994.
West Cumbria Mining has been contacted for comment.
