A new coal mine development in Cumbria is set to be scrapped by the new government after it told the BBC a mistake had been made in granting it planning permission.
Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, said an “error of law” was made in December 2022 when the development was allowed to proceed.
As a result, Rayner said the government will not defend legal challenges brought by Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC) and will recommend that the planning permission be rejected.
West Cumbria Mining is the company behind the proposed mine, which would be the UK’s first deep coal mine in over 30 years, wanted to produce coking coal, which is used as part of the steelmaking process.
The case will be heard next week and if the ruling is that the original decision was incorrect, the planning application will go back to the government to make a fresh decision said the campaigners.