Environmental firm, SLR Consulting has assisted UK Coal Surface Mines in securing planning permission to extract over 1 Mt of coal at a new surface mine in Nottinghamshire. The scheme, at Shortwood Farm near Trowel, will see around 1.275 Mt of coal along with 250,000 t of fireclay extracted over approximately five years and includes restoration to agriculture, woodland, nature conservation and public amenity.

SLR undertook the preparation of the planning application and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and worked closely with UK Coal throughout the process to secure no technical objections to the application, despite there being considerable opposition locally to the scheme. The development would cover an area of approximately 130 ha with mining taking place over 56 ha in an area within a green belt adjacent to the M1 at Trowell, Nottinghamshire.

The scheme will provide an important source of fuel to the local energy market whilst operational; and upon restoration will recreate large areas of new woodland, wildflower meadows and encourage species such as barn owls in the area. The scheme received the green light following a review by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. SLR’s project manager Stewart Lenton said: “Despite considerable local opposition to this complex scheme, we were able to successfully address every technical issue raised enabling a positive recommendation which was supported by members.”