New coalmine in doubt after ‘error’ in planning decision
www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99w1qjp8qko
The government will no longer defend a decision, made by the previous government, to allow a controversial new coalmine in Cumbria.
The new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, has accepted there was an “error of 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 against the mine – by Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC).
It has instead informed the court that the decision to grant planning permission should be quashed.
BBC News has contacted West Cumbria Mining, the company behind the proposed mine, for comment.
The mine has been heavily criticised by climate campaigners and the government’s independent advisors on climate.
Two legal challenges over the climate impacts of burning the coal will be heard at the High Court in London next week.
It comes after the court ruled in June that permission for an oil drilling project in Surrey should not have been granted because the climate impacts of burning the fossil fuels had not been considered.
The government referred to that ruling in its decision on Thursday to withdraw support.
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