People have the chance to comment on extra information about proposals for long-term oil production and more drilling at the Biscathorpe site in the Lincolnshire Wolds.

Egdon Resources announced yesterday (18 June 2025) that it had submitted further information, as requested, to the Planning Inspectorate, about its planning appeal at the site.

A public consultation runs from Monday 23 June to Monday 28 July 2025.

The company said its new information, along with an environmental statement, can be seen on Lincolnshire County Council’s planning website. At the time of writing, the information had not been published. But it is expected to be listed here (appeal N/059/00510/21).

10+ year campaign

The consultation is the latest stage in a 10+ year campaign against oil operations at Biscathorpe. The site, where no oil has yet been discovered, is in the Wolds National Landscape (formerly known as an area of outstanding natural beauty).

In November 2021, Lincolnshire County Council refused planning permission for oil production and a new side-track. Egdon appealed and a year later a planning inspector overturned the council’s refusal.

The inspector ruled that the national need for oil justified production in the Wolds. But his decision was quashed in July 2024, following a landmark judgement by the Supreme Court.

Local campaigner Matilda Dennis, supported by SOS Biscathorpe, successfully argued at the High Court that the negative impact of oil extraction on the landscape and on climate crisis outweighed any claims that the site’s uncertain and negligible oil output would contribute to national energy security.

In January 2025, Egdon submitted a new assessment at part of its second appeal over Biscathorpe. This included a figure for the total carbon emissions from Biscathorpe, including those from burning oil from the site – the subject of the Supreme Court judgement. The assessment was criticised by opponents in a public consultation.

In February 2025, the Planning Inspectorate, which organises appeals, asked Egdon to provide more information.

The company failed to meet the original deadline for submission, of 16 May 2025. The Planning Inspectorate allowed Egdon another month, until Friday 13 June 2025.

DrillOrDrop will report on the new information when it is available. We will also follow the process of the appeal.

The Planning Inspectorate has not said whether there will be a public inquiry or a less formal hearing or whether the appeal will be dealt with by written submissions.