Extractive Industries

WCM plans for deep coal mine under fresh scrutiny

West Cumbria Mining (WCM)’s plans for a coking coal mine will be reconsidered by the local authority which cited new government guidelines on greenhouse emissions for its decision.

Debate: West Cumbria Mining must wait for Cumbria County Council to reconsider its application for a deep coal mine (generic)

CLIMATE CHANGE

The company, backed by Australian investment company EMR Capital Resources, hopes to start extracting coking coal in mid-2022 off the Cumbrian coast near Whitehaven.

WCM’s plans have received support from local people and politicians but also drawn criticism from residents and environmentalists in the UK and abroad.

The local authority today said its development control and regulation (DC&R) committee would reconsider the application after receiving new information.

“This decision has been taken because in December 2020, the Government’s climate change committee released its report on its recommendations for the Sixth Carbon Budget, a requirement under the Climate Change Act.

“The report, among other things, sets out the volume of greenhouse gases the UK aims to emit during 2033-2037. This new information has been received prior to the issue of the formal decision notice on the application.

“In light of this the council has decided that the planning application should be reconsidered by DC&R.”

TIMELINE

The council approved plans in 2019 after which a holding direction was issued as a matter of course by the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Robert Jenrick.

In early January 2021, Mr Jenrick lifted the holding direction without deciding to call in WCM’s proposals for him to decide, and returned the application to the local authority to formalise.

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said in January that Mr Jenrick’s decision not to intervene was at odds with the UK’s domestic climate targets and compromised its status as host of COP26.

In mid-January, WCM applied for two licences from the Coal Authority.

SIXTH CARBON BUDGET

At the end of January, the Government’s climate change committee also raised concerns over Mr Jenrick’s decision not to call in the proposals, as well over the UK’s image as leader of COP26 this November.

Committee chairman Lord Debden referred to the sixth carbon budget required under the Climate Change Act.

He also highlighted the “critical importance” of local authorities to consider fully the implications of their decisions on climate targets, and called for a discussion on guidance provided to councils.

WCM has said it hoped to employ more than 500 people, invest £148 million annually in employment and receive £302m in revenues.

If approved, Woodhouse Colliery will be the UK’s first deep coal mine in more than 30 years.

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