A mothballed oil exploration site in West Sussex looks is if must now be restored to farmland.

Councillors refused in March 2024 to grant a fifth extension to the life of the Broadford Bridge well pad near Billingshurst.

The site operator, UK Oil & Gas plc (UKOG), had until last week (19 September 2024) to appeal against the decision.

But so far there are no signs that the refusal will be challenged.

The company declined to answer our questions about an appeal. It has not issued any formal notice that it would appeal.

West Sussex County Council, which refused the planning application, told us today:

“To date County Planning have not received any notification of an appeal in respect of the refused planning decisions WSCC/046/23 and WSCC/047/23 (relating to the Broadford Bridge hydrocarbon exploration site).”

The Planning Inspectorate, which handles appeals for the government, told us:

“Nothing received at this stage”.

If no appeal has indeed been lodged within the deadline, the site must now be restored to farmland.

The Broadford Bridge site has never produced oil commercially.

It first received planning permission for exploration in 2013 and has been dormant since 2018. Permissions were extended in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022.

UKOG drilled a well in 2017. But the company later revealed cement bond problems and possible damage to the well and surrounding rock formation.

The most recent planning application sought to extend the life of the site until 2026 while  UKOG reviewed the prospects of two other sites: Horse Hill (30 miles away near Gatwick Airport) and the yet-to-be built Loxley well pad, near Dunsfold in Surrey (13 miles away).

UKOG also said in its application that the suspended well could supply geothermal heat for farming, including tea production.

Campaigners have opposed the Broadford Bridge operation for more than 10 years.

During drilling and testing seven years ago, they met regularly outside the site for “cake at the gate” protests.

After the refusal, a spokesperson for Broadford Bridge Action Group said:

“The company now needs to get on with fulfilling its legal duty to restore the site instead of appealing against WSCC’s decision to oppose their spurious plan for the site. We will be monitoring the situation closely.”

In June 2024, UKOG submitted an aftercare scheme, required as a condition of the planning permission granted in 2022. This set out a five-year plan after site restoration had been completed. It sought to ensure:

• Existing and newly planted trees and hedgerows were managed
• The site was returned to former agricultural use
• Specimen trees were managed to ensure they remained healthy
• Existing hedgerows and new planting was managed to ensure a diverse structure

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