Planning permission for UK's first coal mine in 30 years quashed by High Court

Court rules decision to approve Cumbria coal mine was "unlawful"

The High Court has quashed planning permission for the UK's first new coal mine in 30 years, ruling that the government's decision to approve the project was "unlawful".

The decision is a major victory for environmental campaigners, who have been fighting against the mine since it was first proposed in 2018. They argue that the mine would damage the local environment and contribute to climate change.

The government has said it is "disappointed" by the court's decision, but will "carefully consider" the ruling before deciding whether to appeal.

The case was brought by Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and ClientEarth. They argued that the government had failed to properly consider the climate change impacts of the mine, and that the decision to approve it was therefore unlawful.

The High Court agreed with the campaigners, ruling that the government had "failed to take into account" the mine's climate change impacts when it made its decision.

The court also found that the government had failed to properly consider the impact of the mine on the local environment, including the impact on air quality and water quality.

The government has said that it is "disappointed" by the court's decision, but will "carefully consider" the ruling before deciding whether to appeal.

The decision is a major victory for environmental campaigners, who have been fighting against the mine since it was first proposed in 2018. They argue that the mine would damage the local environment and contribute to climate change.

The mine would have been the first new coal mine in the UK in 30 years.

It was proposed by West Cumbria Mining and would have been located in Whitehaven, Cumbria.

The mine was expected to produce 2.8 million tonnes of coal per year, which would have been used to generate electricity.

The government approved the mine in October 2020, but the decision was immediately challenged by environmental campaigners.

The campaigners argued that the mine would damage the local environment and contribute to climate change.

The High Court agreed with the campaigners and quashed the planning permission.

The government has said that it is "disappointed" by the court's decision, but will "carefully consider" the ruling before deciding whether to appeal.