Michael Gove approves Britain’s first new coal mine in decades as controversial Whitehaven site in Cumbria gets go-ahead despite climate concerns

• Michael Gove controversially approves Britain’s first new coal mine in decades 
• Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Secretary gives go-ahead to Cumbria site
• The mine on the edge of Whitehaven will produce coking coal for steelmaking
• But campaigners say it has left Britain’s climate change reputation ‘in tatters’ 

Michael Gove tonight approved Britain’s first new coal mine in decades as he gave the go-ahead to a controversial £165million project on the edge of Whitehaven in Cumbria.

The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary accepted a recommendation by an independent planning inspector to grant permission for the mine, which is proposed to be in operation for 50 years.

It is due to produce fuel for use in steelmaking – which the Government insisted would otherwise need to be imported – but not for use in generating electricity.

The Government hailed the mine’s expected contribution to the economy and in boosting local employment. 

But ministers immediately faced claims the decision had left Britain’s reputation for tackling climate change ‘in tatters’.

Michael Gove has given the go-ahead to a controversial £165million project on the edge of Whitehaven in Cumbria

The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary accepted a recommendation by an independent planning inspector to grant permission for the mine

The mine is due to produce coking coal for use in steelmaking – which the Government insisted would otherwise need to be imported – but not for use in generating electricity

Announcing the decision, a spokesperson from Mr Gove’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said:  ‘The Secretary of State has agreed to grant planning permission for a new metallurgical coal mine in Cumbria as recommended by the independent planning inspector.

‘This coal will be used for the production of steel and would otherwise need to be imported. It will not be used for power generation.

‘The mine seeks to be net zero in its operations and is expected to contribute to local employment and the wider economy.’

The Woodhouse Colliery, to be developed by West Cumbria Mining, seeks to extract coking coal for use in the steel industry. 

It is expected to create around 500 jobs.

But the project, unveiled in 2014, has come under criticism from the Government’s own independent climate advisory panel as well as climate activists and organisations, such as Greta Thunberg and Greenpeace.

The majority of the coal produced is expected to be exported to Europe.

Planning documents showed that more than 80 per cent of the coal the mine will produce annually is forecast to, after five years, be sent to an export terminal on England’s east coast.

Greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal – such as in steel and power plants – are seen as the single biggest contributor to climate change, and weaning countries off coal is considered vital to achieving global climate targets.

Earlier this year, the chair of Britain’s independent Climate Change Committee, John Gummer said the Woodhouse project was ‘absolutely indefensible’.

The Government has committed the UK to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

The Woodhouse Colliery, to be developed by West Cumbria Mining, is expected to create around 500 jobs

The project, unveiled in 2014, has come under criticism from the Government’s own independent climate advisory panel as well as climate activists and organisations

Earlier this year, the chair of Britain’s independent Climate Change Committee, John Gummer said the Woodhouse project was ‘absolutely indefensible’

Labour’s shadow climate change and net zero secretary Ed Miliband said tonight: ‘This decision marks the death knell of any claims this Government has to climate leadership.

‘It does not offer secure, long-term jobs, it won’t benefit British steel producers and ignores the far greater opportunities of the green economy.

‘Rishi Sunak is so weak that he’s led by a rump in his party that would keep us stuck in the past when Britain could be building the future.

‘Instead of taking this backward step, the Government should be creating thousands of sustainable jobs in Cumbria in clean steel, hydrogen, wind, nuclear, home insulation, and other zero-carbon technologies.’

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Tim Farron, MP for the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency near to the Whitehaven site, said: ‘This decision cancels out all the progress Britain has made on renewable energy.

‘The Government’s environmental credentials are yet again left in tatters.

‘Rishi Sunak’s Government is trashing our country’s reputation as a world lead in cutting emissions.

‘He does not represent the views of the public who want green, clean projects.’

Greenpeace UK policy director Doug Parr said: ‘The Government risks becoming a superpower in climate hypocrisy rather than climate leadership.

‘How can we possibly expect other countries to rein in fossil fuel extraction when we’re building new coal mines here?’

Dr Ruth Balogh, co-ordinator of West Cumbria Friends of the Earth, said: ‘This short-sighted decision is bad news for the climate and the region’s long-term well-being. 

‘West Cumbria needs sustainable green jobs for the future – not a dirty coal mine. 

‘This will contribute to the planet-warming emissions that are causing extreme weather events all over the world, such as the intense flooding which we now experience more frequently across Cumbria.’

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