At least 14 onshore oil and gas schemes are going through the planning system in England, DrillOrDrop research has revealed.
Eight proposals have submitted applications for planning permission. Four are seeking or considering appeals against earlier refusals. Another three are awaiting ministerial decisions after public inquiries.
Eight of the sites are in the Weald region of southern England (Surrey, West Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset and Isle of Wight). Three of the sites are in Lincolnshire and two in East Yorkshire.
The developments come despite calls in 2021 by the International Energy Agency for an immediate end to investment in any new oil and gas fields if the world was to meet its goal of net zero carbon emissions.
Please let us know about any other UK onshore oil and gas proposals which are not on our list.
Appeals
Arreton, Isle of Wight 20/00513/FUL
UK Oil & Gas plc is considering an appeal against the refusal of permission for three years to drill vertical and sidetrack wells at Arreton. It has not confirmed publicly whether it will appeal. The company has until mid-April 2022 to submit its case to the Planning Inspectorate. Details
No dates
Balcombe, West Sussex WSCC/045/20
Angus Energy has appealed against the refusal of permission for an extended well test at this site in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The case has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate and is waiting to be assigned a case team and inspector. Details
No dates
Biscathorpe, Lincolnshire PL/0037/21
Egdon Resources has appealed against the refusal of 15 years of oil production and further drilling in a site in the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB. The case is waiting for a team and a planning inspector. Details
No dates
Applications
Albury, Surrey SCC Ref 2021/0130
IGas has applied for permission to install two steam methane units for the production of hydrogen from methane extracted from Bletchingley-2 wellsite. The public consultation was due to end on 27 January 2022. Details
Key dates: Future meetings of Surrey County Council’s planning committee are on Wednesdays 23 February, 23 March and 27 April 2022.
Bletchingley, Surrey SCC Ref 021/0145
IGas has also applied for permission to install two steam methane units at Bletchingley for the production of hydrogen from methane extracted from the site. The public consultation was due to end on 27 January 2022. Details
Key dates: Future meetings of Surrey County Council’s planning committee are on Wednesdays 23 February, 23 March and 27 April 2022.
Brockham, Surrey SCC Ref 2021/0165
Angus Energy is seeking permission to produce oil for 15 years from a well at Brockham. Details
Key dates: Future meetings of Surrey County Council’s planning committee are on Wednesdays 23 February, 23 March and 27 April 2022.
North Kelsey, Lincolnshire PL/0167/21
Egdon Resources has applied for the third extension of planning permission at this site near Caistor. It wants another 12 months and a change to the route of the exploration well. The application is currently listed to be decided by delegated powers. But several parish councils have objected so the scheme is likely to be considered by Lincolnshire’s planning committee. Details
Key dates: Future meetings are on Monday 14 March 2022.
Puddletown, Dorset WD/D/19/002866
South Western Energy has applied for permission to construct a site compound, drill a vertical well and produce oil at this site at Athelhampton Road. After 18 months of limited progress on the application, six new planning documents were posted online in January 2022. They included reports on the impact on heritage, ecology, hydrology, climate and restoration. Latest details
Key dates: The next meeting of Dorset County Council’s strategic planning committee is Monday 28 March 2022.
Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire PL/0176/21
Angus Energy has applied for permission to change the layout of the Saltfleetby gas site and to use a larger flare. The application is listed to be decided by delegated powers. The consultation period closed on 28 January 2022. Details
West Newton-A, East Yorkshire 21/04625/CM
Rathlin Energy has revised an earlier application for drilling and production at its West Newton-A site. The current application is for four new wells, additional sidetracks and 20 years of oil and gas extraction. Details
Key dates: Future planning meetings of East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s planning committee are on Thursdays 24 February, 17 March, 7 April and 28 April 2022. Rathlin Energy has until 8 April 2022 to lodge an appeal against the refusal of the earlier application last year.
West Newton-B, East Yorkshire 21/04629/CM
Rathlin Energy is seeking permission for another three years at this site, where it has consent to drill another exploration oil and gas well. Details
Key dates: Future planning meetings of East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s planning committee are on Thursdays 24 February, 17 March, 7 April and 28 April 2022.
Decisions
The communities secretary has still to make decisions on three remaining onshore oil and gas appeals. There is no deadline for the decisions.
Dunsfold, Surrey
UK Oil & Gas plc appealed against a refusal of permission to drill and test a gas well. A nine-day pubic inquiry was held online in July and August 2021. Details
Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
IGas plc appealed against a refusal of permission to test a shale gas well at Portside North. A 12-day public inquiry was held from January-March 2019. Details
Woodsetts, South Yorkshire
Ineos Upstream appealed against refusals of permission to drill and test a shale gas well. A public inquiry was held in June 2019. Details
Update 30/3/22
The original article included a listing for an appeal by IGas over refusal of permission for five more years at its Avington site. DrillOrDrop has now confirmed this appeal was approved on 10 December 2021. Details below:
Avington, Hampshire SDNP/20/01255/CM
IGas won its appeal against refusal of permission in June 2020 for an extra five years at this site in the South Downs National Park. The inspector ruled that the proposal would not compromise the reasons for the designation of the national park and did not represent major development so there did not need to be exceptional circumstances to justify it. Details
Categories: Regulation, slider
DRILL OR DROP? 
Come on and fast track these applications already: Gas prices are unlikely to come down unless significant investment materialises!
We need a government with some backbone and instilling this rush for gas NOW as home produced and local production, and show two up to the anti’s and nimby’s!
You must be absolutely steaming at the number of “Two ups “ you have been getting recently, long may it continue. To try to say these companies are going to make any difference with their piddling little contributions is just desperation
Higher energy cost are not going away, piddling contributions?? What tax have you contributed jono to this nation?
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/03/rishi-sunak-tells-britons-to-brace-for-even-higher-energy-costs-in-autumn
Nothing to worry about then Jono!
I seem to notice that each wind turbine individually produces a piddling little contribution-sometimes.
I also note that for several days now the HoC has been agreeing (largely) that remaining UK gas and oil should be developed at pace. And, this is before the costs of net zero are fully exposed!
Actually, if I remember rightly, one of the East Midlands proposed sites has been estimated to be potentially capable of producing as much gas as a large North Sea well. So not piddling and obviously lower cost and with a lower carbon footing.
Shalewatcher: indeed!!
Today we received this message from a Mum in our city:
“My little girl turned to me after school and said – ‘Mummy can I have an afternoon snack?’ The heart breaking reality is, we can’t even put the heating on and there’s no money for snacks either. I really need your help.”
Tonight, THIS will be the situation in many households across our city and shire. 💔
We are facing a massive cost of living crisis which has left so many families struggling to cover basic expenses; the impact on lower income households is even more significant.
No parent should have to be forced to make the gut wrenching choice between putting food in their child’s tummy of heating the home so their little one is comfortable and cosy in their bed.
The effects of fuel poverty are enormous and the consequences to a child’s health, growth, development and wellbeing are simply devasting.
Children facing this as their reality are at greater risk of poorer health.
How can we expect a child to be in a place of learning when they have gone to bed hungry and cold.
As we prepare for an increase in demand we are asking for your support to help us get the resources needed to the most vulnerable families.
No child should go to bed hungry.
No child should go to bed freezing cold.
No Child Should Go Without.
Interesting to hear, your not in that category jono!!