Plans for an £160 million coal mine off the coast of Whitehaven have been approved by the Government.
Michael Gove, Levelling Up Minister, has announced that following a lengthy planning inquiry, permission has been granted for the mine – the first in the country for 30 years.
West Cumbria Mining is behind the plans and the coal will be used for steel production.
A Government spokesman said: “The Secretary of State has agreed to grant planning permission for a new metallurgical coal mine in Cumbria as recommended by the independent planning inspector.
“This coal will be used for the production of steel and would otherwise need to be imported. It will not be used for power generation.
“The mine seeks to be net zero in its operations and is expected to contribute to local employment and the wider economy.
“The reasons for the Secretary of State’s decision are set out in full in his published letter, alongside the report of the independent planning inspector who oversaw the inquiry into the proposal.”
Planning inspector Stephen Normington, who led the inquiry, recommended that the mine be approved.
The 419-page letter says that Mr Gove believes the demand for coking coal is led by the demand for steel – and the West Cumbria mine would have a competitive advantage over US coal and would substitute, rather than add to, the demand for coal.
Protestors against the mine say it would undermine the UK’s commitment to climate change targets but supporters say it will create jobs in the area and reduce the need to import coal.
Mr Gove’s announcement today comes after the Government delayed its decision three times. In a statement from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, it said the Government’s commitment to phasing out coal power by 2024 remained in place, but its strategy did not rule out the use of coking coal in the steel process.
It added that construction and operation of the mine is still subject to the developer obtaining the outstanding permissions and licences.
A planning inquiry was held in September 2021 when then Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick called in the plans – after they had been considered three times by Cumbria Council and after he said it was a local matter – for scrutiny.
Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change oppose the mine because they say it does not fit with the strategic aims of the Government to combat climate change.
Supporters say the mine will create 500 direct jobs and 1,500 jobs in the supply chain, plus the mine would produce coking coal – integral for the steel-making process.
Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, has been a long-time outspoken critic of the mine. He said: “This decision cancels out all the progress Britain has made on renewable energy. The Government’s environmental credentials are yet again left in tatters.
“Rishi Sunak’s Government is trashing our country’s reputation as a world lead in cutting emissions. He does not represent the views of the public who want green, clean projects.
“After being dragged kicking and screaming to permit more on-shore wind they’ve now lost all their goodwill by allowing this deeply damaging coal mine.
“Liberal Democrats have long called for this project to be cancelled and we hope the Government will reverse their decision.”
A spokesman for campaign group We Support West Cumbria Mining said: “What a day for West Cumbria! To finally be given the green light after so long, after so many hurdles over so many years is welcome news… Jobs – yes. Greener option than pulling coking coal from the States – yes, plus a much welcome boost for the industrial heritage of Cumbria – yes.
“West Cumbria was built on traditional coal extraction and now coking coal, which will power the upcoming green revolution is great news all round and a carbon neutral project as well… Brilliant!”
Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster said the announcement was a step to support a broader energy mix and therefore greater energy security for the UK.
A statement from the business organisation said: “We recognise that this will not have universal acceptance, including in our membership, and has been represented as the ultimate example of the argument of economy over environment while it was worthy of a more nuanced conversation. The production of this type of anthracitic coal, which is most useful for coking coal will be shipped to fire up the UK steel industry and provide a potential export opportunity. Now that the decision has been taken, we hope this will bring a boost to a locality that is struggling with the Levelling Up agenda.
“Announcements yesterday on the freeing up of planning restrictions around the siting of land-based wind turbines, combined with the recent good news about the potential deployment of Small Modular Reactors endorse the area as being labelled Britain’s Energy Coast. The mine will support the increased need for steel to produce the additional wind turbines until an alternative mass steel production method is developed at scale.
“The community will benefit from this in a number of ways, first the potential of hundreds of jobs being created directly by the mine and further the jobs created in a local supply chain with engineering skills homed in nuclear decommissioning who will create further value for the area, many of whom will be members of Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster.”
Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP, told the Guardian: “Climate-wrecking emissions; unwanted by steel industry; stranded asset within a few years. This will be a toxic, costly and useless dump by 2030. Cumbria needs lower bills, more jobs and economic revival – a coal mine won’t deliver them.”
Friends of the Earth tweeted: “This is an appalling decision. This is a misguided and deeply damaging mistake. West Cumbria deserves far better than this. Investing in cheap renewables and energy efficiency would put the region at the forefront of growing a clean, affordable and energy secure future – creating thousands of green jobs and opportunities locally.”
Coal must be consigned to history books, along with this government’s harmful and outdated addiction to fossil fuels.
— Friends of the Earth (@friends_earth) December 7, 2022
The fight is not over.
Trudy Harrison, Copeland MP, said: “I have consistently made the case for Woodhouse Colliery. Coking coal is a critical raw material which will be required for the European steel industry for decades.
“West Cumbria Mining’s Woodhouse Colliery will be the cleanest, greenest method of extracting coking coal. Blissfully ignorant continuation of the present situation – supporting awful working conditions, worse environmental standards for which we have no control and thousands of miles of fossil fuelled rail, road and ocean transportation – is war grade hypocrisy.
“Every part of our plan for a green industrial revolution needs steel, most of the world’s steel production needs coking coal. That’s the reality – Woodhouse Colliery is a solution for the medium term and is part of the transition. And the independent Planning Inspectorate agrees.”
Mark Fryer, leader of the shadow authority for Cumberland Council, said: “Finally a decision has been made on the coal mine in Whitehaven. This application has gone through a rigorous planning process where all parties have been given the opportunity to have their say.
The development will obviously be something that the new Cumberland Council will inherit after April 1 2023, so we will need to better understand the timeframes going forward and work out what role there is for the new authority.
Our communities have been promised economic benefits from this mine and it is now the job of the company to ensure these 500 jobs – the majority for local people – and the associated infrastructure is delivered. We will of course also be mindful of any environmental impacts and concerns and will work with the mine operators on what can be done to help manage and mitigate against them.
There also remains real and active opportunities in Cumberland for green jobs and future energy investments whether that be with wind power, hydrogen or new nuclear. I demand the government now starts to deliver on the promises they have made to our community for many years.”
