Cumbria coal mine approved

20 December 2022

The UK will build its first new coalmine for three decades at Whitehaven in Cumbria, despite objections locally, across the UK and from around the world.

Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, gave the green light for the project on Wednesday, paving the way for an estimated investment of £165m that will create about 500 new jobs in the region and produce 2.8m tonnes of coking coal a year, largely for steelmaking.

Media comment

'Cumbria coalmine approval shows Sunak does not care whether he is seen as green'
The Guardian  7 December 2022  Fiona Harvey, Environment editor

'First UK coal mine in decades approved despite climate concerns'
BBC News  7 December 2022  Christina McSorley, Joshua Nevett,  Justin Rowlatt.
 

People demonstrate against the proposed coalmine in Cumbria outside the Home Office in London in September 2021.    Andy Rain/EPA