This page lists applications on UK onshore oil and gas sites going through the planning system and decisions for 2017-2020.
Last updated 7/1/2021
Applications in the planning system
Listed in alphabetical order by operator
Angus Energy/Balcombe, West Sussex 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. Decision expected in early 2021. Details
Egdon Resources/Biscathorpe, Lincolnshire EIA/19/20
Egdon announced on 10 November 2020 that it would submit an application for sidetrack drilling, appraisal and production at its Biscathorpe site by February 2021. Details Lincolnshire County Council has ruled that the proposal needs an environmental impact assessment.
IGas/Ellesmere Port, Cheshire appeal ref APP/A0665/W/18/3207952
Outcome of IGas appeal over refusal of permission for flow testing at its Portside One site at Ellesmere Port was due on 8 April but was delayed. No new date for decision. Link to public inquiry Appeal was recovered by the local government secretary.
IGas/Springs Road, Misson, Nottinghamshire V/4202
IGas has submitted an application to keep open its shale gas site at Springs Road, Misson. A public consultation runs until 31 January 2021. Details
IGas/Ince Marshes, Cheshire
IGas submitted a scoping request in October 2017 to drill and frack two shale gas wells at an already drilled site at Protos (formerly known as Ince Resource Recovery Park). The existing well would be reinstated and used to monitor drilling and testing the two new wells. Link to scoping request Since then, the site owner has said there will be no fracking or drilling on the Protos site.
Ineos/Woodsetts, Rotherham Ref RB2018/0918, appeal ref APP/P4415/W/19/3220577
Outcome of Ineos appeal over refusal of permission for shale gas exploration at Woodsetts was due on 8 April but was delayed. No new date for decision. Appeal has been recovered by the local government secretary.
Rathlin Energy/West Newton C and D 20/02543/EIASCR and 20/02544/EIASCR
East Riding Yorkshire Council has said plans for two wells at two additional sites in the West Newton area do not need environmental impact assessments. No applications yet submitted. Details
South Western Energy/Puddletown Ref WD/D/19/002866
Application to establish and construct a site compound and drill a single vertical well for appraisal and production of oil. Dorset County Council extended the decision deadline to 28 January 2021.
UKOG/Arreton, Isle of Wight 20/00513/FUL
Plans published and consultation completed for vertical and horizontal well at land to north east of New Barn Business Park, Sandown Road, Arreton, Newport, Isle Of Wight PO30 3BT. In October 2020, UKOG moved the proposed entrance for the site. A new consultation is expected. Details
Ones to watch
We’ll also be looking out for applications expected to be submitted by:
- Egdon Resources for additional wells in Lincolnshire
- UKOG appeal against refusal at Loxley/Dunsfold and IGas appeal against refusal at Avington (see 2020 decisions)
- INEOS has identified possible shale gas sites on Forestry Commission land at The Lings near Edwinstowe and Thieves Wood near Ravenshead, both in Nottinghamshire
- IGas appeal against refusal to extend permission at Avington, Hampshire by South Downs National Park
- IGas exploration well in Surrey
Please let us know about any other proposals which have not yet reached planning application stage by clicking here
2020 decisions
Listed by date of decision, most recent first
27 November 2020
UKOG/Dunsfold, Surrey SCC ref 2019/0072 REFUSED
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 PL/0067/20 and PL/0068/20 on planning register APPROVED
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 PL/0060/20 APPROVED
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 LCC/2019/0037 WITHDRAWN
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 WSCC/071/19 WITHDRAWN
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 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 GRANTED
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 GRANTED
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 – GRANTED
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 – GRANTED
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) – GRANTED
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 – GRANTED
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 – GRANTED
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 – GRANTED
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
How do I keep a check on local applications for fracking, where specifically should I look? I am based in Weston Super Mare, licences have been granted to frack our area and would like to get advance warning of any applications.
Thanks
Michael
Contacts
Contact: Minerals and Waste Policy Team
Address: Somerset County Council, County Hall, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4DY
Email mineralsandwaste@somerset.gov.uk
Contact no 0300 123 2224
Many thanks Ruth!