Keep up to date with 2026’s news with our digest of daily updated headlines about the business, regulation and campaigns around UK fracking, shale, and onshore oil and gas..

We’ll be reporting this year on new proposals, reactions to them, key decisions, legal actions and site clean-ups.

Monday 16 February 2026

Balcombe permission lapses – county council. DrillOrDrop reports planning consent at the controversial Balcombe oil site in West Sussex has lapsed, officials confirmed today.

West Newton fracturing approved. DrillOrDrop reports the West Newton-A oil and gas site in East Yorkshire has got a go-ahead for reservoir stimulation, the site operator announced this morning.

Thursday 12 February 2026

U-turn on Wressle advice. DrillOrDrop reports that advice has been reversed on whether expansion of the Wressle oil site near Scunthorpe needs a detailed study of the environmental impacts. North Lincolnshire Council has now been advised the scheme does need an EIA.

Tuesday 10 February 2026

Europa shares drop 16% on news of £3.5m fundraising and going concern warning. DrillOrDrop reports that Europa Oil & Gas, the company behind plans for lower-volume fracking in Burniston, North Yorkshire, warned today it could go out of business if shareholders did not approve a £3.5m fundraising later this month.

Monday 9 February 2026

Balcombe well test: oil company misses notice deadline. DrillOrDrop reports that a well test at the controversial Balcombe oil site – scene of daily anti-fracking protests in summer 2013 – is looking unlikely after the operator, Angus Energy, failed to give notice of the work.

Friday 6 February 2026

Calls for scrutiny of North Yorkshire’s handling of Burniston gas plan after “local loss of trust”. DrillOrDrop reports apparent procedural irregularities and widespread opposition over the handling of gas drilling plans has prompted calls for scrutiny of North Yorkshire Council.

UKOG announces Broadford Bridge abandonment. DrillOrDrop reports the announcement by UK Oil & Gas plc that the Broadford Bridge oil wells near Billinghurst in West Sussex have been abandoned.

Guest article by David Eddy: Who advocates for Yorkshire’s water? In this guest article for DrillOrDrop, David Eddy examines Yorkshire Water’s response to plans to drill for gas at Foxholes in North Yorkshire, above one of the region’s main sources of drinking water. 

Thursday 5 February 2026

Keep block on fracking and cut onshore emissions – climate advisor. DrillOrDrop reports that the Climate Change Committee (CCC) s climate advisor has said the moratorium on fracking in England should not be lifted without an “in-depth” climate review. It also called for cuts in emissions from onshore oil and gas fields.

Tuesday 3 February 2026

Dorset oil expansion plan needs EIA – Government DrillOrDrop reports a government ruling that plans by Egdon Resources for more drilling and another 10 years of production at the Waddock Cross oil site in Dorset are likely to have “significant effects” on the environment.

Friday 30 January 2026

Two Cuadrilla companies to cease trading. DrillOrDrop reports that annual accounts for Cuadrilla South Cleveland Limited and Cuadrilla Gainsborough Limited, published this week, said the process had begun to dissolve the companies.

Thursday 29 January 2026

Breaking: Burniston decision meeting postponed. DrillOrDrop reports that a crucial meeting tomorrow (Friday January 30 2026) to consider gas drilling plans at Burniston near Scarborough has been postponed.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Council warned over “problem” with Burniston gas application. DrillOrDrop reports that a retired geologist has warned North Yorkshire councillors they risk embarrassment or even leal action over the handling of the planning application for gas drilling at Burniston.

Government asked to decide Burniston gas application. DrillOrDrop reports that North Yorkshire Councillor, Rich Maw, has asked the government to call in the decision on gas drilling and lower volume fracking at Burniston.

Council still waiting for Horse Hill information. DrillOrDrop reports Surrey County Council has revealed that additional  information expected last month that will shape the future of the controversial Horse Hill oil site in Surrey has been delayed again.

Friends of the Earth not taking further legal action over government’s climate plan. The campaign organisation said its successful legal challenges against the Conservative government’s previous plans had led to significantly bolder climate action.

Friday 23 January 2026

Council warned of legal “minefield” over Burniston fracking definition. DrillOrDrop reports that council planners who have backed plans for lower-volume fracking at Burniston in North Yorkshire have been warned they risk opening a “can of worms” over legal definitions.

Thursday 22 January 2026

Planners back Burniston gas drilling and lower-volume fracking. DrillOrDrop reports that North Yorkshire planners are recommending approval of plans by Europa Oil & Gas Limited to drill for gas and carry out a form of lower volume fracking at Burniston, near Scarborough.

Wednesday 21 January 2026

MP and councils join calls for Burniston decision delay. DrillOrDrop reports that an MP and leaders of four local councils are urging a delay to the decision on gas drilling and lower volume fracking near Scarborough.

Ministers “reviewing” low volume fracking. DrillOrDrop reports the UK government has said in a parliamentary petition response that it is reviewing low volume frackng operations in the onshore oil and gas industry.

Tuesday 20 January 2026

“Gloves off” in dispute over gas drilling and fracking in Burniston. DrillOrDrop reports that two sides in a planning dispute over gas drilling and lower volume fracking near Scarborough have accused each other of making misleading claims, just ten days before a decision is due.

Further invalid requisition of general meeting. Union Jack Oil reports it has received a second requisition noticed from former director, Craig Howie. Union Jack said it did not consider the notice to be valid. Mr Howie withdrew the notice, the company said.

Monday 19 January 2026

Company profile: Europa Oil & Gas Limited. DrillOrDrop reports on the firm that has been making headlines since it announced controversial plans a year ago for gas drilling and lower-volume fracking in the North Yorkshire village of Burniston, near Scarborough.

Union Jack requisition notice. Union Jack Oil reported a requisition notice from former director, Craig Howie. The company said the notice was not valid.

Saturday 17 January 2026

Burniston residents: ‘fracking guineapigs’ fear. DrillOrDrop reports that Residents of the North Yorkshire village of Burniston, which is facing plans for gas exploration, are afraid they may be used as guineapigs for proppant squeeze, a form of lower-volume fracking.

Friday 16 January 2026

Industry regulator extends Europa’s Burniston licence. DrillOrDrop reports an announcement by Europa Oil & Gas that it has been granted an extension to the first phase of its exploration licence covering controversial plans for gas drilling and lower volume fracking in North Yorkshire.

Date confirmed for Burniston gas meeting. DrillOrDrop reports controversial plans to drill for gas and carry out lower-volume fracking near the North York Moors National Park will be considered at the end of the month, it was confirmed this morning.

Wednesday 14 January 2026

UK world’s worst for letting fossil fuel companies drill in nature reserves. The Bureau of investigative journalism reports the UK is the world’s worst offender when it comes to letting fossil fuel companies drill in protected areas.

Monday 12 January 2026

New directors at UJO. Union Jack Oil announces it has appointed Donald Zac Phillips and John Americanos as non-executive directors of its board. Craig Howie is no longer a director of the company, UJO announced.

Wednesday 7 January 2026

Councillors back Burniston delay but company urges timely decision. DrillOrDrop reports two leading councillors have supported calls for delays to the decision on plans for gas drilling and lower-volume fracking in the North Yorkshire village of Burniston. But the company behind the scheme, Europa Oil & Gas, has said a delay is not justified.

Tuesday 6 January 2026

Star Energy seeks more time to restore Egmanton oilfield. DrillOrDrop reports on plans by Star Energy to extend its restoration time at the Egmanton oilfield in Nottinghamshire by five years.

Monday 5 January 2026

Campaigners launch new methane legal action. DrillOrDrop reports that the Weald Action Group, the campaigners who won a landmark Supreme Court ruling onthe climate impact of onshore oil and gas, has launched a new legal action over methane emissions from the industry.

Thursday 1 January 2026

Who drilled where in 2025? DrillOrDrop reports that the UK onshore industry drilled no oil and gas wells during 2025, according to official data.

Headline archive