North Yorkshire planners have recommended approval of plans for gas drilling and lower-volume fracking by Europa Oil & Gas Limited at Burniston, near Scarborough.

A planning application is due to be considered by North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee on Friday 30 January.

In a report to the committee, published this morning, planners said:

“The application is recommended for approval as it is considered on balance that there are no material planning considerations that warrant its refusal, and there would be no unacceptable adverse environmental impacts resulting from the proposed development.

The 91-page report added:

“it is considered that the proposed development is of a temporary nature of up to three years, and whilst leading to a change to the landscape during this period, it would not result in any unacceptable impacts on local amenity, the character of the surrounding area and landscape, the local highway network, ecology or the water environment or lead to an unacceptable impact on air quality or climate change.

“The proposed landscaping, restoration and aftercare of the site is deemed appropriate. For these reasons it is considered that the principle of the development in this location is acceptable.”

Europa proposes to construct a wellsite on the edge of Burniston, within the heritage coast and near the edge of the North York Moors National Park.

The plans include drilling an appraisal well and carrying out a proppant squeeze, a form of lower-volume fracking.

The report said there had been more than 1,400 objections to the planning application. Local people say the number exceeds 1,600.  Concerns include the proppant squeeze, earth tremors and impacts on landscape and wildlife, climate change, traffic, noise, pollution, recreation and tourism,

All the local parish and town councils have objected: Burniston, Newby & Scalby, Cloughton and Scarborough.

Other objections were from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Salby and Newby Village Trust, Frack Free Coastal Communities, Frack Free Ryedale, North Yorkshire Moors Association, CPRE and Friends of the Earth

There was no objection from the North York Moors National Park, officers from North Yorkshire Council, Natural England, Yorkshire Water, Yorkshire Police,

The Environment Agency said the proposal would be acceptable only if there was a planning condition to prevent unacceptable risks to groundwater.

The planners recommended 38 conditions. These also cover issues such as time limits for the proposal, working hours, pollution control, lighting, vibration monitoring, noise, air quality and dust, traffic management, site construction, biodiversity, aftercare and restoration.

Next week’s meeting, at 1.30pm, at Scarborough Town Hall, is expected to hear from Europa and opponents of the scheme.

Local councils and Scarborough’s MP, Alison Hume, had asked for the meeting to be delayed because of changes to planning rules on onshore oil and gas.

• More details soon.