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The mine was initially approved by the then-government in 2022, but Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change argued the environmental impact of burning extracted coal had not been taken into account.

Friends of the Earth said it met a 27 February deadline to submit its reply but that WCM had "failed to respond".

Friends of the Earth activist Tony Bosworth said the group was "delighted" by the news.

Declan Allison from Friends of the Earth said legal action can have "a very powerful impact".

Friends of the Earth has described the plan for a third runway as "hugely irresponsible".