Exploration & Mining Legal News

Public inquiry date set for WCM coal mine plan

The public inquiry over West Cumbria Mining Ltd’s plans for a metallurgical coal mine off the coast of Cumbria will be held on 7 September 2021.

Date: West Cumbria Mining will set out its case for a metallurgical coal mine at a public inquiry in July 2021 (CGI – West Cumbria Mining)

The Planning Inspectorate will conduct the inquiry, expected to last just over two weeks, on the future of the proposed Woodhouse Colliery.

The move follows Cumbria County Council’s decision to reconsider the proposals after three times granting approval, and Secretary of State Robert Jenrick‘s decision to call in the plans after twice refusing to do so.

Reasons given related to the Government’s Climate Change Committee (CCC)’s recommendations for the 6th Carbon Budget published in December 2020.

(Edit: the date of 7 July for the public inquiry initially published in this article has since been corrected to 7 September 2021)