This page lists applications on UK onshore oil and gas sites going through the planning system and decisions for 2017-2023.

Last updated 1/6/23

Applications in the planning system

Listed in alphabetical order by operator

Angus Energy/Balcombe, West Sussex
STATUTORY CHALLENGE
APP/P3800/W/21/3282246

Sue Taylor, for Frack Free Balcombe Residents Association, has been granted permission to challenge the government’s decision to grant planning permission on appeal for flow testing at the Balcombe well site. Date to be announced. Details here and here

Cuadrilla/Preston New Road, Lancashire
APPLICATION DECISION AWAITED
LCC/2023/0002

Cuadrilla has applied for another two years at its shale gas site near Blackpool. Public consultation underway. Details here and here. Application to be considered by Lancashire County Council development control committee on Wednesday 7 June 2023.

Egdon Resources/Biscathorpe, Lincolnshire
APPEAL DECISION AWAITED
PL/0037/21

Egdon Resources has appealed against the refusal of 15 years of oil production and further drilling in a site in the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB. The case was heard by a planning inspector in October 2022. Decision awaited.

Egdon Resources/North Kelsey, Lincolnshire
APPEAL DECISION AWAITED
PL/0167/21

Egdon Resources has appealed against the refusal to extend planning permission by another 12 months. The appeal (number 144203) is due to be decided by a hearing on Wednesday 14 June and Thursday 15 June 2023 at Nettleton Village Hall. Link

Egdon Resources/Waddock Cross, Dorset
DECISION AWAITED
P/VOC/2023/02762

Egdon Resources is seeking permission for 10 more years at the Waddock Cross oil site. Consultation underway. Currently listed to be decided by delegated powers. Link

UKOG/Dunsfold-Loxley, Surrey
STATUTORY REVIEW OF APPEAL DECISION
APP/B3600/W/21/3268579

Protect Dunsfold and Waverley Borough Council granted permission to seek a statutory review of the local government secretary’s decision to grant planning consent for a gas exploration site at Loxley, near Dunsfold. Details. Hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday 8 June 2023. Link

UKOG/Horse Hill, Surrey
STATUTORY REVIEW OF PLANNING PERMISSION
RE18/02667/CON

Sarah Finch, supported by Weald Action Group, has permission to challenge at the Supreme Court the grant of planning permission by Surrey County Council for four new wells and long-term oil production at Horse Hill. Court hearing on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 June 2023. Details

Ones to watch

Angus Energy/Saltfleetby

Angus Energy has announced it is engaging planning consultants to prepare an application for more wells and a site extension at its Saltfleetby gas site. Link

Egdon Resources/Waddock Cross

Egdon has announced it intends to submit an application for further drilling. Details

2023 decisions

17 April 2023

IGas/Glentworth, Lincolnshire APPROVED
PL/0135/22

Construction of a new oil production site, with one vertical appraisal well and up to seven horizontal development wells. Details and report on decision

29 March 2023

IGas/Albury, Surrey REFUSED
SCC Ref 2021/0130

Installation of a Steam Methane Reformation (SMR) unit for the production of hydrogen from methane extracted from Albury wellsite. Details

13 February 2023

Angus Energy/Balcombe, West Sussex APPEAL GRANTED
APP/P3800/W/21/3282246

Appeal against refusal of planning permission for 1-year extended well test. DrillOrDrop article and appeal decision document Frack Free Balcombe Residents’ Association is seeking a statutory review of the appeal decision

2022 decisions

26 October 2022

IGas/Bletchingley, Surrey – REFUSED
SCC Ref 021/0145

Installation of two steam methane units for the production of hydrogen from methane extracted from Bletchingley-2 wellsite. Consultation underway until 18 October 2021. Details Next Surrey County Council planning committee meeting due 29 June 2022.

14 October 2022

IGas/Welton, Lincolnshire – APPROVED BY DELEGATED POWERS

PL/0086/22

Construction and use of battery storage facilities on land at and in support of operations at the Welton Gathering Centre. Details

13 October 2022

BritNRG/Whisby, Lincolnshire – APPROVED BY DELEGATED POWERS

PL/0078/22

Drilling of a sidetrack to an existing oil producing well. Details

16 August 2022

UKOG/Horse Hill, Surrey – APPROVED BY DELEGATED POWERS

SCC Ref 2020/0018

Storage of crude oil in association with planning permission for retention of the wellsite and production of hydrocarbons. Details

7 June 2022

Ineos/Woodsetts, Rotherham – APPEAL REFUSED
Ref RB2018/0918, appeal ref APP/P4415/W/19/3220577

Outcome to Ineos appeal finally announced more than two years after the expected date. Details Link to inquiry report

IGas/Ellesmere Port, Cheshire – APPEAL REFUSED
appeal ref APP/A0665/W/18/3207952

Outcome to IGas appeal finally announced more than two years after the expected date. Details Link to inquiry report

UKOG/Loxley-Dunsfold, Surrey – APPEAL ALLOWED
APP/B3600/W/21/3268579

Recovered appeal allowed by communities’ secretary and permission granted for vertical and sidetrack well near the village of Dunsfold. Inquiry held online from 27 July to 13 August 2021. Decision expected on or before 7 June 2022. Details . Links to inquiry reports

18 May 2022

UKOG/Broadford Bridge, West Sussex – APPROVED
WSCC/001/22

Application for a further two years – the fourth time extension for suspended site. Details

27 April 2022

Angus Energy/Brockham, Surrey – APPROVED
SCC Ref 2021/0165

Angus Energy granted permission to produce oil for 15 years from a well at Brockham. Details 

25 March 2022

UKOG/Arreton, Isle of Wight – NO APPEAL

UK Oil & Gas plc is said it won’t appeal against the refusal of permission for three years to drill vertical and sidetrack wells at Arreton.

24 March 2022

South Western Energy/Puddletown, Dorset – WITHDRAWN
WD/D/19/002866

South Western Energy has withdrawn its application for a site compound, drill a vertical well and produce oil at this site at Athelhampton Road. Details

17 March 2022

Rathlin Energy/West Newton-A, East Yorkshire – APPROVED
21/04625/CM

East Riding of Yorkshire Council approved a revised application for drilling and production at its West Newton-A site. Details and call-in campaign. The local government minister refused the request to overturn planning permission.

Rathlin Energy/West Newton B, East Yorkshire – APPROVED
21/04629/CM

Rathlin Energy received permission for another three years at this site, where it has consent to drill another exploration oil and gas well. Details

16 March 2022

Angus Energy/Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire – APPROVED BY DELEGATED POWERS
PL/0176/21

Planning officers approved Angus Energy’s application for permission to change the layout of the Saltfleetby gas site and to use a larger flare. Details

14 March 2022

Egdon Resources/North Kelsey, Lincolnshire – REFUSED
PL/0167/21

Egdon Resources’s scheme for a third extension at its site near Caistor was unanimously refused. The company wanted another 12 months and a change to the route of the exploration well. The company said it would appeal. Details

2021 decisions

10 December 2021

IGas/Avington, Hampshire – APPEAL ALLOWED
SDNP/20/01255/CM

IGas won its appeal against refusal of permission in June 2020 for an extra five years at this site in the South Downs National Park. The inspector ruled that the proposal would not compromise the reasons for the designation of the national park and did not represent major development so there did not need to be exceptional circumstances to justify it. Details

1 November 2021

Egdon Resources/Biscathorpe, Lincolnshire – REFUSED
PL/0037/21

Lincolnshire County Council refused permission for sidetrack drilling, appraisal and 15-years of production at Biscathorpe. Details

19 October 2021

UKOG/Arreton, Isle of Wight – REFUSED
20/00513/FUL

Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to refuse planning permission for a vertical and deviated well at land to north east of New Barn Business Park, Sandown Road, Arreton, Newport, Isle Of Wight PO30 3BT. Details

30 September 2021

Rathlin Energy/West Newton-A REFUSED 21/02464/STFU

East Riding of Yorkshire Council refused an application by Rathlin Energy for a further six wells and 20 years of oil production. The decision was against the advice of planning officers Details

27 July 2021

IGas/Springs Road, Misson, Nottinghamshire – REFUSED
V/4202

Nottinghamshire County Council refused an application to keep open its shale gas site at Springs Road, Misson. The decision was against the recommendation of officials. The operator, IGas, was ordered to restore the site. Details

26 July 2021

Angus Energy/Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire – APPROVED
N/158/1011/21

Lincolnshire County Council approved an application to drill a 1,500m sidetrack well from an existing borehole wellsite to access further reserves of gas . Minutes of the meeting

2 March 2021

Angus Energy/Balcombe, West Sussex – REFUSED
WSCC/045/20

Re-submission of application for an extended well test at the Lower Stumble well drilled in 2013 by Cuadrilla. The duration of the well test has been reduced from 3 years to 1 year. Public consultation closed on 28 September 2020. Unanimous decision to refuse. Details and decision notice

2020 decisions

Listed by date of decision, most recent first

27 November 2020

UKOG/Dunsfold, Surrey -REFUSED
SCC ref 2019/0072

Surrey County Council refused planning permission for a vertical and sidetrack well near the village of Dunsfold. The decision was ruled invalid because of problems during the remote council meeting. The second hearing was also refused by the same narrow margin Details and reaction UKOG has since said it will appeal.

7 September 2020

Egdon Resources/North Kelsey, Lincolnshire -APPROVED
PL/0067/20 and PL/0068/20 on planning register

Extension of permission for oil site and security compound for 12 months to December 2021. This is the second time the company has applied for an extension of planning permission. Details

7 August 2020

Angus Energy/Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire -APPROVED
PL/0060/20

Decision by Lincolnshire County Council planning officers under delegated powers to install and operate a 750m underground pipeline connecting the Saltfleetby gas pipeline to the National Grid. Details

27 July 2020

Aurora Resources/Altcar Moss, Lancashire – WITHDRAWN
LCC/2019/0037

Aurora had applied to Lancashire County Council to drill and frack two shale gas wells at Great Altcar near Formby. The company withdrew the application, blaming the moratorium, before the decision date expected to be in August or September 2020.  Details of withdrawal

15 July 2020

Cuadrilla Elswick Ltd/Elswick, Lancashire – APPROVED

Councillors narrowly approved Cuadrilla’s application for retention of gas site and electricity generation for a further five years. There were objections from local people and Elswick and Treales, Roseacre and Wharles parish councils. Details and report on decision

7 July 2020

UKOG/Broadford Bridge – APPROVED

West Sussex County Council approved UKOG’s application to retain the Broadford Bridge site near Billingshurst for two more years. Live news updates from the committee meeting

29 June 2020

UKOG/Loxhill-Dunsfold – REFUSED

Surrey County Council refused the UKOG application for drilling and testing vertical and horizontal wells at High Loxley, north of Dunsfold in Surrey. SCC ref 2019/0072 Live news updates from the committee meeting and reaction

• Surrey County Council ruled on 3 August 2020 that the refusal was invalid following problems during a remote committee meeting. The application is to be reheard, possibly in October 2020 or more likely November 2020 or later.

24 June 2020

IGas/Avington, Hampshire – REFUSED

In a delegated decision, planning officers at the South Downs National Park refused permission for a further five years of appraisal of oil and gas at Avington Wellsite, on land off Matterley Farm, Petersfield Road, Ovington Down, Hampshire. The decision notice ruled that the proposal constituted “new mineral development that fails to conserve and enhance the National Park and it would create an unwelcome precedent for further oil and gas development within the National Park”.

11 June 2020

Angus Energy/Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire – APPROVED

Lincolnshire County Council approved the installation and processing facilities at the Saltfleetby B site, Howdales, South Cockerington, Louth. Classed as permitted development. Details

1 May 2020

Angus Energy/Balcombe, West Sussex – WITHDRAWN
WSCC/071/19

Angus Energy application for an extended well test of up to three years. Withdrawn after Environment Agency objection.  Details of withdrawal

21 January 2019 and 9 July 2020: Third Energy/pipeline and Vale of Pickering sites – APPROVED

North Yorkshire County Council votes in favour of extending the duration of planning permissions for Vale of Pickering gas sites and the pipeline to 2035. The formal decision was delayed because of a challenge by Friends of the Earth. The decision was formalised at an online meeting on 9 July 2020 Details and final decision

17 January 2020

Egdon Resources/Wressle – APPROVED

Appeal allowed for 15 years of oil production. Details and appeal ref APP/Y2003/W/19/3221694

2019 decisions

11 September 2019: HHDL/Horse Hill – APPROVED

Surrey County Council approved HHDL’s application for four news production wells and 20 years of oil production at Horse Hill. Details and opponents announced plans to see a judicial review 

2 July 2019: BGS/Ince Marshes – APPROVED

Cheshire  West and Chester council approved the BGS application for a UK Geo-Energy Observatory. Details

1 July 2019: Egdon Resources/North Kelsey – APPROVED

Lincolnshire County Council approved two separate applications to amend conditions in an earlier permission to drill and test an exploration well. The changes include new layout and site liner, two lighting towers, extra cabins, tanks and facilities and higher noise limits.

23 April 2019: Infinis Energy/Rufford Hills Farm -APPROVED

Nottinghamshire County Council’s planning committee voted by 7 in favour and 5 abstentions for a scheme by Infinis Energy to extract mines methane from the disused Ollerton colliery from a site near Rufford Abbey historic parkland. Details

15 February 2019: Angus Energy/Lidsey – APPROVED

Planning officers at West Sussex County Council approved under delegated powers round-the-clock oil production at Lidsey. Other operations remain restricted to 7.30am-6pm Monday-Saturday. Details

12 February 2019: Cuadrilla/Roseacre Wood – REFUSED

The local government secretary, James Brokenshire, refused planning permission after Cuadrilla’s appeal for drilling and fracking up to four wells at Roseacre Wood near Blackpool. Breaking news and link to decision notice. Cuadrilla announced it was not appealing against the decision

31 January 2019: Ineos/Harthill – CHALLENGE QUASHED

A judge at the High Court dismisses a statutory challenge from Harthill Against Fracking to the Planning Inspectorate’s approval of planning permission for Ineos Upstream’s shale gas exploration plans at Harthill in south Yorkshire. Breaking news

25 January 2019: Egdon/Wressle – APPEAL GRANTED

Planning inspector grants permission to Egdon Resources to operate its Wressle site, near Scunthorpe for another 12 months. Details

2018 decisions

3 December 2018: Egdon/Biscathorpe – APPROVED

Lincolnshire County Council approved a retrospective planning application for security cabins at Egdon’s Biscathorpe site near Louth

28 November 2018: Egdon/Wressle – REFUSED

North Lincolnshire Council refused another application from Egdon Resources for long-term oil production at its Wressle site near Scunthorpe. Breaking news

11 September 2018: UKOG/Broadford Bridge -APPROVED

West Sussex County Council approved an application by UKOG to extend permission for operations at its Broadford Bridge exploration site. Breaking news

7 September 2018: Ineos/Woodsetts – REFUSED

Rotherham Council again refused permission to Ineos for an exploratory shale gas site at Woodsetts. Breaking news

16 August 2018: Ineos/Bramleymoor Lane – APPEAL ALLOWED

Planning inspector, Elizabeth Hill, allowed Ineos’s appeal against non-determination of plans for shale gas exploration at Bramleymoor Lane, Marsh Lane in Derbyshire. Breaking news and reaction

8 August 2018: Angus Energy/Brockham – APPROVED

Surrey County Council’s planning committee granted retrospective planning permission for a oil exploration sidetrack drilled in 2017. The committee also allowed continued use of the wellhead and for appraisal of the sidetrack for three years. Live news updates and reaction 

1 August 2018: Egdon/Wressle – REFUSED

North Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee unanimously voted to refuse permission to Egdon Resources for another three years at its oil exploration site at Wressle. Live news updates and reaction

7 June 2018: Ineos/Harthill – APPEAL ALLOWED

Planning inspector, Stephen Roscoe, allowed Ineos’s appeal against non-determination of plans for shale gas exploration at Common Road, Harthill, South Yorkshire. Details and reaction

29 May 2018: IGas/Albury – APPROVED

Surrey County Council planning officers granted planning permission under delegated powers for the production and export of gas from the oil site. Details (see end of post)

23 May 2018: Europa/Bury Hill Wood (Holmwood/Leith Hill) – APPROVED

For the second time, Surrey County Council approved plans for fencing and  buildings at the Bury Hill Wood site near Leith Hill. Live news updates

14 May 2018: Egdon/North Kelsey – APPROVED

Lincolnshire County Councillors unanimously approved Egdon’s application to drill and test an oil well at North Kelsey. Live news updates 

14 May 2018: Egdon/Biscathorpe – APPROVED

Lincolnshire County Councillors unanimously approved Egdon’s application to drill and test an oil well at Biscathorpe. Live news updates 

24 April 2018: Angus Energy/Lidsey – APPROVED

West Sussex County Council approved Angus Energy’s application to continue oil production at the Lidsey site near Bognor Regis for 10 more years. Details

8 March 2018: Ineos/Woodsetts – REFUSED

Labour-controlled Rotherham Metropolitan Council unanimously refused permission for Ineos’s vertical coring well at Woodsetts on ecological and highway grounds. DrillOrDrop live news updates and reaction report

5 February 2018: Ineos/Marsh Lane – OPPOSED

Conservative-controlled Derbyshire County Council voted 9-1 to oppose Ineos plans for vertical shale gas exploration well at Bramleymoor Lane, Marsh Lane, when it goes to a public inquiry on 19 June 2018. DrillOrDrop live updates and reaction report

25 January 2018: IGas/Ellesmere Port – REFUSED

Labour-controlled Cheshire West and Chester Council refused plans by IGas for testing the Pentre Chert formation at its existing gas well at Portside in Ellesmere Port. The company is considering an appeal. The council says the vote was 10-1 against the application. DrillOrDrop report

25 January 2018: Ineos/Harthill – OPPOSED

Labour-controlled Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s planning board voted unanimously to oppose Ineos’s shale gas vertical well for Harthill when it goes to a public inquiry due to start on 24 April 2018. DrillOrDrop

24 January 2018: Cuadrilla/Roseacre Wood – OPPOSED

Conservative-controlled Lancashire County Council’s development control committee voted unanimously to oppose Cuadrilla’s traffic management plans for Roseacre Wood when they go to a public inquiry scheduled to start on 10 April 2018. DrillOrDrop report

9 January 2018: Cuadrilla/Balcombe – APPROVED

Conservative-controlled West Sussex County Council voted unanimously to allow Cuadrilla’s application for flow testing at its horizontal well at Balcombe. (Site operation has since been transferred to Angus Energy). DrillOrDrop report

4 January 2018: Egdon/Wressle appeal – DISMISSED

Planning inspector, Keri Williams, backed two decisions by Conservative-controlled North Lincolnshire Council to refuse permission to Egdon Resources for acidisation, proppant squeeze and oil production at Wressle, near Scunthorpe. The planning inquiry was in November 2017 and the applications refused in January and July 2017. DrillOrDrop report

2017

25 October 2017: Cuadrilla/Becconsall – REFUSED

Lancashire County Council’s planning committee refuses permission for an extension of time at the Becconsall site near the Ribble Estuary. Details

18 October 2017: HHDL/Horse Hill – APPROVED

Surrey County Council approves planning permission for two more wells and more testing. Live updates from the meeting and reaction

18 October 2017: Europa/Bury Hill Wood (also known as Leith Hill or Holmwod) – DEFERRED

Surrey County Council’s planning committee defers decision on Europa’s traffic plans for Bury Hill Wood. Details

18 October 2017: Europa/Bury Hill Wood (also known as Leith Hill or Holmwod) – APPROVED

Surrey County Council’s planning committee approves Europa’s fencing plans for Bury Hill Wood. Details

11 October 2017: UK Oil & Gas/Broadford Bridge -APPROVED

West Sussex County Council approves, under officer delegated powers, permission to retain security fencing, gates and cabins until 30 September 2018. Link to decision document

13 September 2017: Angus/Brockham – APPROVED

Surrey County Council approves retrospective application for fencing, equipment and buildings at Brockham site. Details

12 September 2017: UK Oil & Gas/Broadford Bridge – APPROVED

West Sussex County Council unanimously approves extension of one year to planning permission to allow flow testing. Details

2 August 2017: Europa/Bury Hill Wood (also known as Leith Hill or Holmwod) – DEFERRED

Surrey County Council’s planning committee defers decision on Europa’s traffic plans for Bury Hill Wood

3 July 2017: Egdon/Wressle – REFUSED

North Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee refuses permission for oil production plans at Wressle. Details

2 May 2017: UKOG/Markwells Wood – WITHDRAWN

UKOG withdraws planning application for drilling and oil production at Markwells Wood. Details

21 March 2017: IGas/Tinker Lane – APPROVED

Nottinghamshire County Council’s planning committee votes by a margin of one to approve IGas plans for a single vertical well at Tinker Lane, near Blyth. Details

16 March 2017: Europa/Bury Hill Wood (also known as Leith Hill or Holmwod) – APPROVED

Surrey County Council approves plans for groundwater monitoring boreholes, fencing and portacabin under permitted development rights. Details

11 January 2017: Egdon/Wressle – REFUSED

North Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee refuses permission by 7 to 3 with one abstention for 15 years of oil production at the site. Details

4 January 2017: UK Oil & Gas/Broadford Bridge -APPROVED

West Sussex county Council approves changes to planning permission allowing for a drilling “zone of variation” within which the proposed lateral borehole can be drilled. Details  

DrillOrDrop has reported on all the decision meetings listed on this page. This has been possible because of donations by individual DrillOrDrop readers. You can donate here