Last updated: 5/11/2020
Key facts
Address: off Coldharbour Lane, nr Dorking
Planning applications:
- SCC Ref 2008/0169 (well site and exploratory borehole)
- SCC Ref 2017/0027 (traffic management plan)
- SCC Ref 2014/0082 (drilling corridor),
- SCC Ref 2016/0170 (increased site area, security fencing and temporary buildings)
Environmental permits: Permit approved
Operator: Europa Oil & Gas then UK Oil and Gas plc. Licence relinquished October 2020
Licence: PEDL143
Status: Permissions but site abandoned after renewal of lease refused
Timeline
16 October 2020
UKOG gives up Bury Hill Wood oil exploration licence. Details
31 March 2020
UKOG says it has identified multiple drilling sites in the licence, now called A24. Details
4 January 2020
Egdon accounts reveal that the OGA has granted a two-year extension to the licence, to run until 20 September 2022. Details
28 June 2019
UKOG says it is making “good progress” in finding alternative drilling locations to Bury Hill Wood. Details
14 March 2019
Europa to hand operation of Bury Hill Wood licence to UK Oil & Gas plc (UKOG). Details
11 September 2018
Europa Oil & Gas begins to clear the Bury Hill Wood site. Details
4 September 2018
Europa Oil and Gas announces it is pulling out of Bury Hill Wood because the lease has not been extended. Details
30 August 2018
Europa seeks to extend protest injunction. Details
11 August 2018
Europa submits three new planning applications for Bury Hill Wood. Details
25 July 2018
Oil and Gas Authority extends initial term of PEDL143 for two more years. Details
23 July 2018
Environment Agency issues a mining waste permit for Bury Hill Wood. Details
23 May 2018
Europa’s fencing plans for Bury Hill Wood oil site approved again. Details
27 April 2018
Europa withdraws traffic management plans for Leith Hill. Details
4 April 2018
Second review of oil exploration plans is critical of risk to drinking water. Details
28 March 2018
Independent review has “major criticisms” of Europa’s application for an environmental permit for Bury Hill Wood. Details
15 March 2018
Actors Sue Jameson and James Bolam, present a 102,000+ signature petition against an environmental permit for oil drilling at Bury Hill Wood. Details
19 February 2018
Environment Agency says it is minded to grant an environmental permit for Bury Hill Wood oil exploration. Details
11 January 2018
Leith Hill Action Group claim victory in challenge over Europa’s fencing plans at Surrey oil site. Details
29 December 2017
Europa seeks extended injunction over Bury Hill Wood site. Details
4 December 2017
Lock-on and lorry protest at entrance to Bury Hill Wood site. Details
24 November 2017
Campaigners from Leith Hill Action Group begin judicial review legal challenge to council decision on Bury Hill Wood fencing application. Details
21 November 2017
Europa announces it will appeal against failure of Surrey County Council to reach a decision on traffic management plan for Bury Hill Wood. Details
18 October 2017
Europa’s fencing plan for Bury Hill Wood approved by Surrey County Council’s planning committee. Details
Councillors on Surrey County Council’s planning committee again defer traffic management plan for Bury Hill Wood oil site. Details
6 September 2017
Mole Valley District Council imposes tree preservation orders on 20 trees on Coldharbour Lane, the route to Europa’s Bury Hill Wood oil site. Details
2 August 2017
Surrey County Council’s planning committee defers a decision on the traffic management scheme for Bury Hill Wood and adopts all the recommendations in the safety audit.
Mole Valley District Council objects to Europa’s traffic management plan. Details
31 July 2017
Closing date for comments on revised traffic management scheme. Details
22 June 2017
Leith Hill protection camp demolished and occupants evicted by 11pm. DrillOrDrop live updates
21 June 2017
Eviction of Leith Hill protection camp begins at 4.55am. DrillOrDrop live updates
Closing date for comments on traffic management plan, which allows for road closures, stop-go boards and parking suspensions to allow lorries weighing up to 60 tonnes to reach the site. Details
16 May 2017
Closing date for comments on environmental permit application.
10 May 2017
Traffic management plan validated. Link
6 April 2017
Consultation permit on application by Europa for environment permits (mining waste, radioactive substances and storage and handling of crude oil) Details and Link to permit consultation web page
22 March 2017
Surrey County Council approves restoration plan. Details
20 March 2017
The Communities Secretary rules that Europa’s application to put security fencing on the site for 18 weeks requires an Environmental Impact Assessment. Details
16 March 2017
Surrey County Council says plans to drill groundwater monitoring boreholes and install Heras fencing and a portacabin do not need an Environmental Impact Assessment and approves go-ahead under permitted development rights. Details
23 February 2017
Surrey County Council agrees plan for checking road damage at the site. Details
13 February 2017
Surrey County Council puts the condition for a highway survey on the agenda for its next planning meeting on 22 February 2017
6 February 2017
Angus Energy takes a stake in the licence. Details
23 January 2017
Eviction order made against the protection camp
10 January 2017
Forestry Commission refuses a request from two local councillors to scrap the lease agreement with Europa for the site at Bury Hill Wood Details
7 December 2016
Surrey County Council’s planning committee approves the lighting plan for the site
Europa Oil & Gas told DrillOrDrop it was working on an application to the Environment Agency for a mining waste permit.
4 December 2016
Hundreds of people gather at Leith Hill to protest against Europa’s plans for Bury Hill Wood. Details
29 October 2016
Opponents of Europa’s plans establish a “protection camp” at the proposed drill site. Details
27 September 2016
Europa Oil & Gas applies for permission to increase the area of the site and install additional security fencing, offices, welfare facilities, tanks and a generator. Application SCC Ref 2016/0170 and details
23 September 2015
Surrey County Council approves Europa’s application for an underground drilling corridor for the Bury Hill Wood exploratory borehole. Decision notice
7 August 2015
The inspector at the second public inquiry finds in favour of Europa and grants planning permission for the exploratory borehole Decision notice
1 May 2015
Second public inquiry closes. DrillOrDrop report
22 April 2015
Second public inquiry opens in Dorking. DrillOrDrop report
14 May 2014
Europa Oil & Gas submits an application SCC Ref 2014/0082 to Surrey County Council for an underground drilling corridor for an exploratory hydrocarbon borehole at Bury Hill Wood
30 April 2014
Three judges at the Court of Appeal uphold the ruling by Mr Justice Ouseley, against Leith Hill Action Group, and send the planning appeal back to the Planning Inspectorate for redetermination.
19 September 2013
Leith Hill Action Group appeals against the ruling by Mr Justice Ouseley
25 July 2013
Mr Justice Ouseley allows Europa’s challenge and quashes the refusal of planning permission but allows Leith Hill Action Group leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal
23-24 July 2013
Hearing at the High Court before Mr Justice Ouseley on Europa’s challenge to the dismissal of its appeal
1 November 2012
Europa launches a challenge in the High Court against the dismissal of its appeal
26 September 2012
Planning inspector rules against Europa’s appeal and refuses planning permission
19 July 2012
First public inquiry closes
10 July 2012
First public inquiry opens in Dorking
January 2012
Leith Hill Action Group granted Rule 6 status at the public inquiry hearing Europa’s appeal
December 2011
Europa appeals against refusal of planning permission
30 June 2011
Surrey County Council issues formal notice of refusal of planning permission
25 May 2011
Surrey County Council refused an application for an oil and gas exploration well by Europa Oil & Gas at Bury Hill Wood in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
1 December 2008
Europa Oil & Gas Ltd applies for permission to drill an exploratory oil and gas well at Bury HILL Wood
DRILL OR DROP? 