This page has links (in red) to detailed reports on the public inquiry into the UK Oil & Gas application for drilling for gas near the village of Dunsfold in Surrey.
The county council twice narrowly refused the proposal for the Loxley site: on 29 June 2020 and 27 November 2020. The first refusal was ruled invalid because of technical problems with the online meeting.
Source: Surrey County Council
Inquiry
Dates: Tuesday 27 July-Friday 6 August 2021
Location: Online
Parties: UK Oil & Gas plc, Surrey County Council, Waverley Borough Council and Alford Parish Council (Rule 6 party)
Application reference: WA/2019/0796
Appeal reference: APP/B3600/W/21/3268579
Link: Planning inspectorate and appeal documents
Broadcast: The inquiry will be livestreamed on the Planning Inspectorate’s YouTube channel
Site
Address: Land South of Dunsfold Road and East of High Loxley Road
Key facts and timeline
People
Inspector: Mike Robins
UK Oil & Gas barrister: David Elvin QC
UK Oil & Gas witnesses: Stephen Sanderson (site selection), Kris Bone (operations), Will Gardner (landscape), Steven Windsass (highways), Nigel Moore (planning)
Surrey County Council barrister: Jenny Wigley QC
Surrey County Council witnesses: Liz Brown (landscape), Graham Foulkes (highways), Richard Hunt (planning)
Waverley Borough Council and Alford Parish Council witnesses: Patrick Arthurs (planning), John-Paul Friend (landscape), Matin Knowles (highways)
Members of the public: Tom Gordon, Ashley Herman, Kirsty Clough, Darcy Finch, Stephen Hayward
Likely schedule
The inquiry opens at 10am on Tuesday 27 July. All other days begin at 9.30am. The inspector has said he plans to run three sessions of one-and-a-half hours each day. He intends to sit from 2pm on Monday 2 August.
Schedule
The inquiry opens at 10am on Tuesday 27 July. All other days begin at 9.30am. The inspector has said he plans to run three sessions of one-and-a-half hours each day. He intends to sit from 2pm on Monday 2 August.
Tuesday 27 July
- Opening announcements by the inspector
- Opening statements by UK Oil & Gas, Surrey County Council and Waverley Borough Council and Alford Parish Council
- Statements by members of the public and organisations
- Landscape and visual impact – evidence from UKOG
Wednesday 28 July
- Cross-examination of UKOG’s landscape witness
- Landscape evidence by Surrey County Council
Thursday 29 July
- Cross-examination of landscape evidence from Surrey County Council
- Landscape evidence from Waverley Borough Council and cross examination
Friday 30 July
- UKOG highways evidence and cross-examination
- Possible further members of the public and interested parties
Tuesday 3 August
- Surrey County Council highways evidence and cross-examination
- Evidence and cross-examination from Stephen Sanderson, UKOG chief executive
Wednesday 4 August
- Evidence by UKOG’s operations director, Kris Bone, and cross-examination
- Surrey County Council and Waverley Borough Council planning evidence
Thursday 5 August
- UKOG planning witness, Nigel Moore
Friday 6 August
- Conditions
Thursday 12 August
- Site visit
Friday 13 August
- Closing submissions
News updates from the inquiry
Check here for key points and links to reports from each day of the inquiry
Key discussion: Opening statements by main parties and statements by members of the public
Key point: UKOG says the site of proposed drilling site is not in a valued landscape
Key point: UKOG landscape assessment relies on surrounding commercial woodland – that could be felled – to screen the wellsite in its landscape assessment
Key point: Surrey County Council says UKOG’s proposed gas drilling site would have “direct adverse impacts” on a “highly valued landscape”.
Key point: Council accused to “exaggeration” and “after thought” at Dunsfold drilling inquiry
Key point: UKOG drilling plans would be “outlandish” in a sensitive landscape, inquiry told
Key point: The final section of the route to UKOG’s proposed gas exploration site near Dunsfold in Surrey is “inherently unsuitable”
Key point: New garden village is best site to drill for gas near Dunsfold. The selected site at Loxley was described by the company as “by no means ideal”
Key point: UKOG proposed gas exploration site near Dunsfold in Surrey “could be there for years” if temporary permission were granted – inquiry told
Key point: Autumn woodland felling will reveal views of UKOG well site – inquiry hears on final day of evidence on plans for gas drilling near Dunsfold in Surrey.
Day 8
Conditions session
Closing arguments from the inquiry
Links
Core documents library with links to proofs of evidence, opening statements and rebuttals
Planning Inspectorate website for the appeal (APP/B3600/W/21/3268579
Notes of case management conference
DrillOrDrop report on second Surrey County Council decision meeting
Planning Inspectorate’s YouTube channel
DRILL OR DROP? 