Decision on fracking in North Yorkshire

“UKOOG welcomes the decision that has been taken today by North Yorkshire County Council, which helps to dispel many of the misleading claims that have been made about this application, as well as the process of hydraulic fracturing more generally.

We look forward to Third Energy being able to conduct a test to see how much gas is under this area of North Yorkshire to power and heat homes and businesses.”

"This approval, is not as a victory, but is a huge responsibility.

We will have to deliver on our commitment, made to the committee and to the people of Ryedale, to undertake this operation safely and without impacting on the local environment."

"It is striking that the overwhelming number of speakers giving evidence at the two-day hearing were against fracking and Ryedale Parish Council voted against fracking at its back door, but North Yorks Council has overlooked this and the many, many concerns that were raised locally.

This isn't over and people will continue to raise their very valid concerns and keep fighting against fracking because it will industrialise the beautiful Yorkshire countryside and contribute to climate change."

mfl

North Yorkshire County Council’s planning committee has given the go-ahead for Third Energy to undertake fracking for shale gas in the vicinity of Kirby Misperton.

The committee has sat for two days and listened to over 100 speakers before deliberating the planning officer’s report and recommendation to accept Third Energy’s application.

This has been a long and taxing process which the committee has undertaken with very careful consideration of all the issues raised.

Today the County Council has taken a single decision on a single site in North Yorkshire which already has existing conventional drilling for gas on it. The planning committee is satisfied that in this particular application, mitigation of the effects of the development with regard to safeguarding the natural environment, protected species and habitats the amenity of local residents, the protection of ground and surface water quality and traffic management can be achieved through the discharge of the planning conditions. The County Council is very aware that this is a controversial proposal of major sensitivity and complexity and that many objections have been expressed about significant and adverse impacts upon the environment and upon climate change.

The Council is proud that North Yorkshire is a beautiful place to live in, to work in and to visit and is determined that it will remain so. This decision does not change that fact.

But local councils are required to work within the national policy framework that indigenous oil and gas remain key to energy security while facilitating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This must be a material consideration as is the need for economic growth and development that will provide jobs and sustainable communities.

Nevertheless North Yorkshire did not choose to be the first authority to make a decision on fracking within this policy framework. The local circumstances associated with each application remain the overriding factor in planning decision-making.

The County Council planning committee has come to a decision therefore based on the particulars of this site.

This decision does not have a bearing on future applications.