Whitehaven coalmine confirmed dead as planning application withdrawn

West Cumbria Mining (WCM), the company behind the controversial Whitehaven coalmine, has withdrawn its planning application, the government confirmed today.

Planning permission for the mine was initially quashed in the High Court on 13 September 2024 [2] following legal challenges by Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC).

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government began reassessing the planning application by writing to interested parties, including Friends of the Earth and WCM. It extended the deadline for WCM by two weeks after they did not respond.

Today, the Ministry confirmed that WCM had withdrawn its planning application.

Responding to the news, Tony Bosworth, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:

“We’re delighted this long running saga has finally drawn to a close. Congratulations to all the brilliant local campaigners who fought so powerfully to stop this mine.  

“The previous government should never have given the green light for this highly polluting and unnecessary coal mine in the first place – and West Cumbria Mining should have pulled the plug on it last year when planning permission was comprehensively quashed and coal licenses were refused.

“The focus must now switch to ensuring local people get the green jobs they so urgently need – areas like West Cumbria have been left behind for far too long.”

ENDS