A consultation is underway into detailed plans for a gas site in Surrey, even though the scheme is being challenged in court next month.
Source: UKOG report on highway and access works
UK Oil & Gas plc (UKOG) was granted planning permission by the government in June 2022 for the site at Loxley, near Dunsfold, following a public inquiry. The county council twice turned down the proposal (details here and here).
UKOG has now submitted six sets of reports, totalling more than 400 pages, required to meet conditions of the consent.
This is despite a legal challenge at the High Court on 8 June 2023 by the local campaign group, Protect Dunsfold, and Waverley Borough Council.
They are expected to argue that the government acted inconsistently in granting planning permission for the Loxley site. On the same day, it refused permission for gas testing in Cheshire because of carbon emissions.
Details
The reports deal with some of the most controversial aspects of the application. These include:
- Proposed changes to the junction between Dunsfold Road and High Loxley Road
- Management of heavy goods vehicles visiting the site
Each report has been submitted as part of a separate planning application and has its own reference number.
Council officials, using delegated powers, are expected to approve or reject the applications.
Comments on some of the reports are due on the day of the legal challenge. Others are due on 17 May 2023 (see below).
The applications deal with the following conditions:
- Condition 7: Provide details of highway and access works. SCC_Ref_2023-0074. Comments deadline 8 June 2023.
- Condition 9: Provide details of a Transport Management Plan. SCC_Ref_2023-0075. Comments deadline 8 June 2023
- Condition 21: Produce a surface water drainage scheme. SCC_Ref_2023-0054. Comments deadline 17 May 2023.
- Condition 24: Provide details of a Construction Environment Management Plan. SCC_Ref_2023-0076. Comments deadline 8 June 2023.
- Condition 26: Provide details of a Pre-development Baseline Geochemical Testing. SCC_Ref_2023-0063. Comments deadline 17 May 2023.
- Condition 30: Provide details of a written scheme of investigation for a programme of archaeological work. SCC_Ref_2023-0062. Comments deadline 17 May 2023.
Representations should be sent to Caroline Smith, Planning Development Manager, Planning Group, Surrey County Council, Quadrant Court, 35 Guildford Road, Woking, Surrey, GU22 7QQ.
The legal challenge will be at the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand, London WC2A 2LL.
Categories: Regulation, slider
DRILL OR DROP? 
You only need to look at the junction into High Loxley Road to see what they are up against https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1289307,-0.5538431,3a,75y,130.33h,37.91t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swVhZlRHQbTE40QjN-xsW4g!2e0!5s20221101T000000!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0
Personally I’m not sure whatever they do will save there being a big mud bath in the verges and I can see those trees taking a hammering from high loads.
I suspect those very long wind turbines blades may have a problem navigating some corners. also.
Strange this mud stuff. When I lived in East Anglia it was an annual occurrence when the sugar beet was harvested. Then a few weeks later it had gone, and a few months later all nice and green again, but the good people had their energy fix supplied.
Martin the blades wouldn’t be going in and out several times a day for months on end. However that bend is no joke for people coming round at speed (blame the petrol heads inspired by Top Gear for that).
Except Paula C I think you will find the larger vehicles will only be on a few occasions-just like those wind turbines. Do you want to suggest that once the larger bits are delivered and later on removed, then in between there will be need for larger than normal HGVs to go in and out? Would be a novel way of building a drilling site. Goodness, at PNR they were “outraged” that Cuadrilla managed to sneak the big bits in during one night!
I don’t think what idiots do on the road are any responsibility of other road users. Safe driving courses are available for those who are worried about other idiots on the road, and how to mitigate against that. Quite worthwhile-if for nothing else may help to ease insurance costs.
Ah the Hypocrisy has no end the very same protesters are happy to drive around in their gas guzzling Range Rovers. where do they think the fuel comes from to fuel it.