1986

Autumn

Conoco drills Balcombe oil well. http://www.cuadrillaresources.com/our-sites/balcombe/

2008

14/1/2008

Cuadrilla Resources Ltd forms. https://www.duedil.com/company/06472493/cuadrilla-resources-limited

2009

3/2/2009

West Sussex County Council reveals Lower Stumble Wood, Balcombe is being used for unauthorised inert waste sorting and recycling by Dorton Demoliton of Burgess Hill as waste transfer station. PCN served on estate. Negotiations commenced. http://www2.westsussex.gov.uk/ds/cttee/plng/plng011209i5c.pdf

5/2/2009

Incorporation of Bolney Resources Ltd, the company that later becomes Cuadrilla Balcombe Ltd,  subsidiary of Cuadrilla Resources. Ltd. https://www.duedil.com/company/06811588/cuadrilla-balcombe-limited

23/12/2009

Environmental Impact Assessment is not required for the proposed use of the site at Balcombe for oil/gas exploration, according to a West Sussex County Council Screening Opinion. See Documents (Balcombe FAQs) http://buildings.westsussex.gov.uk/ePlanningOPS/tabPage3.jsp?aplId=1155

2010

25/1/2010

Cuadrilla Resources Ltd applies for planning permission (WSCC/027/10/BA) to West Sussex County Council to upgrade existing stoned platform and drill an exploratory borehole for oil and gas exploration. Consultation begins. Agent is Phil Mason. Case officer is Michael Vine. http://buildings.westsussex.gov.uk/ePlanningOPS/loadFullDetails.do?aplId=1154

4/2/2010

Cuadrilla Resources Holdings is incorporated. It has one subsidiary, Cuadrilla Resources Ltd, and becomes the parent company of the Cuadrilla group. https://www.duedil.com/company/07147040/cuadrilla-resources-holdings-limited

15/2/2010

Lord John Browne of Madingley becomes a director of Cuadrilla Resources Holdings, the parent company of the Cuadrilla Group. http://companycheck.co.uk/company/07147040/CUADRILLA-RESOURCES-HOLDINGS-LIMITED/directors-shareholders

Single reference to Cuadrilla’s planning application at Balcombe Parish Council meeting is: “Mr Greenwood [Simon Greenwood, a parish councillor and owner of Balcombe Estate, which has leased land to Cuadrilla] mentioned a recent application (to WSCC) relating to re-establishing exploratory oil drilling at the previous site off the London Road on Estate.” land”. http://www.balcombevillage.co.uk/Minutes15thFebruary2010.htm

4/3/2010

Mid Sussex District Council makes no objection to the planning application by Cuadrilla to upgrade existing stoned platform and drill an exploratory borehole for oil and gas exploration at Lower Stumble Wood London Road, Balcombe, West Sussex. http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/media/100304_Doc_C_Combined.pdf

23/4/2010

West Sussex County Council approves planning application by Cuadrilla Resources Ltd (WSCC/027/10/BA) to upgrade existing stoned platform and drill an exploratory borehole for oil and gas exploration. No objections made and no representations from the public so the decision was delegated to the Divisional Manager County Development. Permission is subject to 21 conditions and is granted for 3 years from the date of the commencement of site construction. The planning permission expires on 28/9/13. See Documents (Balcombe FAQs) http://buildings.westsussex.gov.uk/ePlanningOPS/tabPage3.jsp?aplId=1154

30/6/2010

Francis Maude appoints Lord Browne of Madingley as the government’s lead Non-Executive Director. Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office,  is MP for Horsham, which includes Balcombe. Lord Browne, former CEO of BP, was appointed to the board of Cuadrilla Resources Holdings on 15/02/2010.

Mr Maude describes Lord Browne’s role as “powerful” and says his first tasks will be to appoint Non-Exeuctive Directors to the board of every government department. This will, Mr Maude says, “galvanise departmental boards as forums where political and official leadership is brought together to drive up performance”. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lord-browne-appointed-to-key-whitehall-role

28/9/2010

Cuadrilla Resources Ltd starts construction phase at Balcombe site. This consists of “minor improvements to the access track, the re-grading of the existing stone platform, the construction of a drilling cellar and an Environment Agency approved drainage scheme.”

Go to Timeline 2011-12