Burniston, North Yorkshire

Last updated 24/7/2025

Proposed site of Burniston exploration well. Photo: DrillOrDrop

Key facts

Address: Land East of the Mill Yard, Burniston Mill, Coastal Road, Burniston, Scarborough, YO13 0DB

Planning applications:  NY/2025/0030/ENV for wellsite, gas exploration, proppant squeeze and restoration

Environmental permit: n/a

Operator: Europa Oil & Gas plc

Licence: PEDL343

Status: Application for wellsite, drilling and proppant squeeze

Location plan. Source: Planning application
Cross-section of proposed site during drilling. Source: Planning application
Trajectory of proposed well (in red). Source: Planning application

Timeline

20 July 2025

Views sought on environmental permit application for Burniston gas plans. Details

17 July 2025

Reform council in Scarborough unanimously opposes Burniston fracking plan. Details

7 July 2025

Burniston gas plan qualifies as fracking – expert legal opinion. Details

4 July 2025

Burniston MP calls for parliamentary debate on fracking. Details

11 June 2025

Burniston gas plan poses “unacceptable risk to groundwater” – regulator. Details

30 May 2025

Burniston MP to quiz minister on fracking ban. Details

15 May 2025

National Park votes for no objection to Burniston gas plans – but recommends strengthened conditions. Details

13 May 2025

Burniston gas plans – concerns from National Park planners. Details

9 May 2025

99%+ oppose Burniston gas plan – 1,400+ formal objections. Details

Key concerns:

Climate change

Traffic and road safety

Landscape and tourism

Threat to wildlife and nature

Health and pollution fears

Proppant squeeze/fracturing and induced seismicity

Economic impact and need for gas

Too close to homes

Other application inadequacies

24 April 2025

Burniston consultation extended. Details

23 April 2025

Second council unanimously rejects Burniston gas drilling plans. Details

16 April 2025

Burniston’s unanimous reject of Europa gas plans. Details

8 April 2025

Villagers meet to decide on response to Europa’s Burniston gas plan. Details

26 March 2025

New twists in the F-word debate. Europa used the word ‘fracking’ for proppant squeeze plans at Burniston, despite criticising campaigners for using the same word for the same process. Details

23 March 2025

250 people attend march against gasfield in Burniston. Details

7 March 2025

Long-awaited North Yorkshire gas plan published. Details of Europa’s planning application

26 February 2025

Burniston fracking protest outside North Yorkshire Council. Details

8 November 2024

Europa commits to environmental assessment for Burniston drilling plans. Details

27 September 2024

The Duchy of Lancaster, the private estate owned by the King, did not respond to an approach to allow exploration on its land near the village of Burniston. Details

Key points and reaction to information meeting, organised by Europa Oil & Gas, on its Burniston plans. Details

13 September 2024

More details on proposals for gas drilling and small-scale fracking at Burniston at information meeting. Details

2 August 2024

Burniston gas drill and frack would have “significant environmental impacts”, say planners. Details

30 July 2024

Burniston calls for environmental assessment of Europa’s gas drilling plan. Details

15 July 2024

Europa Oil & Gas reveals plans to drill an exploration well and carry out a small-scale frack on farmland on the edge of the North York Moors national park. Details