Investigation: Has Banks Group Illegitimately Commenced Work at the UK’s Newest Coal Mine?

Read time: 8 mins

The legitimacy of the ‘Bradley’ opencast coal mine in Durham’s Pont Valley has been called into question after the operator, Banks Group, appeared to commence work before key planning conditions had been completed.  

Evidence gathered by DeSmog UK suggests that Banks group failed to follow the strict conditions agreed in a specific planning document —Section 106 — agreed between the contractor and Durham County council. The deadline for the mining work to have “commenced” was 3 June 2018, otherwise the mine’s planning permission would be void.