High Court Quashes Approval for Whitehaven Coal Mine in West Cumbria

Sep 13, 2024, 10:11 AM

The High Court has quashed the UK government's decision to approve the first new deep coal mine in over 30 years at Whitehaven in West Cumbria. The ruling, delivered by Mr. Justice Holgate, found that the planning permission granted for the coal mine was 'legally flawed,' particularly in its assumptions about the mine's environmental impact. The legal challenge was brought by environmental campaigners, including Friends of the Earth, who argued that the climate impact had not been adequately considered in the planning decision. The court's decision marks a significant victory for environmental groups and is expected to have broader implications for future fossil fuel projects in the UK.