Letter on behalf of Communities Secretary Sajid Javid requests information on 'extent to which the proposed development is consistent with government policies for meeting the challenge of climate change'
The Druridge Bay open cast coal mine could be blocked on climate change grounds, after the government 'called in' the recent planning approval granted to the controversial project.
In what is thought to be a first for UK planning policy, the Department for Communities and Local Government has written to Northumberland County Council to inform it that the decision had been 'called in' for review by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid.
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The letter confirms the government is to hold a local inquiry on the project, which would see developer Banks Group extract three million tonnes of coal, sandstone and fireclay from a surface mine at Highthorn, near the village of Widdrington.
It also confirms climate change considerations were at the heart of the decision to 'call in' the original planning approval.
The letter requests information on a series of environmental issues, including "the extent to which the proposed development is consistent with government policies for meeting the challenge of climate change", as well as the extent to which it is consistent with government policies on "conserving and enhancing the natural environment", ensuring sustainable extraction of minerals, and guidelines on low carbon energy.
In addition, the letter highlights the government's announcement last year that it plans to phase out unabated coal-fired power stations in the UK and replace them with gas plants.
The original planning application was approved by the county council in July despite over 10,000 objections to the project being lodged, primarily on environmental grounds.
The Labour opposition complained at the time that planning rules were out of date as they did not require councils to sufficiently consider climate change impacts when assessing planning applications for high carbon infrastructure.
The news the project is to be reviewed was welcomed by Green Party co-leader and MP Caroline Lucas, who previously tabled a cross-party early day motion in parliament opposing the Druridge Bay mine.
"The Secretary of State's decision to ‘call in' the Druridge Bay planning application on climate grounds is hugely significant and very welcome," she said. "Going ahead with this project would fly in the face of the climate science, and be disastrous for the local environment. Coal is a dirty, polluting energy source and has no role to play in a modern economy."
She urged Javid to now reach a swift decision to block the project. "With over 10,000 objections having been lodged against the mine, I have no doubt that local people will be relieved by the Secretary of State's decision to call this in," she said. "It's now time for the decision to go ahead with this project to be overturned for good."
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