Coal news and updates

Whitehaven coal mine decision expected by July

A deadline of July has been set for a decision on whether to go ahead with a new coal mine in Cumbria.

In a letter seen by the BBC, the office of the Planning Inspectorate confirmed it had sent its completed report to Housing, Communities and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.

In it, a deadline of 7 July is set for him to issue his decision.

If it goes ahead, it would be the first deep coal mine to open in the UK for more than 30 years.

In autumn, the Planning Inspectorate held a public inquiry into whether West Cumbria Mining could mine coking coal at the former Marchon chemical works site in Whitehaven, for use in steel making.