Last updated 24 April 2017 

Where we’ll be reporting in future

DrillOrDrop reports on planning applications, appeals and judicial reviews for fracking and onshore oil and gas operations.

This page lists by mineral planning authority the applications and challenges that are currently going through the planning process. It also lists permissions where the operator is still negotiating over planning conditions.

Please let us know about any applications that are missing from the list. Please also tell us if any of this information is incomplete or inaccurate. Get in touch here.

Click here for more information on other UK onshore oil and gas sites, with links to timelines and key facts. Click here for links to all reports on application decisions 

Derbyshire

Bramleymoor Lane, Marsh Lane

INEOS Shale expected to submit a planning application in May 2017. On 28 February, Derbyshire County Council decided that the plans for a vertical well did not need an environmental impact assessment (details). On 24 January, Eckington Parish Council, which represents Marsh Lane, voted unanimously against the proposal. Key facts, links and timeline

Lancashire

Preston New Road, Little Plumpton (LCC/2014/0096 and LCC/2014/0097)

On 12 April 2017, High Court judge, Sir Ian Dove, dismissed two statutory challenges to the Communities Secretary’s decision to grant Cuadrilla’s appeal on its scheme to drill, frack and test up to four wells at Preston New Road. The claimants, Preston New Road Action Group and Gayzer Frackman, have 21 days to appeal. The decision to approve planning permission, announced by Sajid Javid on 6 October 2016, overturned a refusal of permission by Lancashire County Council. Mr Javid also granted the company’s appeal for a monitoring array around Preston New Road. On both appeals, he followed the recommendation of the inquiry inspector. Links to posts on Mr Javid’s decision here.  Key facts, links and timeline

Roseacre Wood (LCC/2014/0101 and LCC/2014/0102)

Roseacre resident, Jules Burton, is seeking a court hearing on his statutory challenge against Mr Javid’s decision to reopen the public inquiry on this site on highway issues. High Court judge, Sir Ian Dove, refused Mr Burton’s challenge on 12 April 2017. On 6 October 2016, Mr Javid said he was minded to grant Cuadrilla’s appeal on refusal of permission to drill, frack and test up to four wells at Roseacre Wood. The inspector at a public inquiry had recommended refusal on grounds of highway safety. Mr Javid said he was reopening the public inquiry to give Cuadrilla another opportunity to to present evidence on this issue. He granted Cuadrilla’s appeal against the conditions in the permission for a monitoring array around Roseacre Wood. Links to posts on Mr Javid’s decision here.

Elizabeth Warner, of Roseacre Awareness Group, has been granted permission to seek a judicial review (CO3715/2015) of  Lancashire County Council’s decision to approve the application by Cuadrilla for a monitoring array in and around Roseacre Wood. The one-day hearing scheduled for 12 April 2016 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London was postponed until after the result of the public inquiry.

Key facts, links and timeline and Links to posts on the public inquiry

Lincolnshire

Wressle, near Broughton, Scunthorpe  MIN/2016/810 and PA/2016/808

On 11 April 2017, Egdon Resources said it had lodged an appeal against a refusal of planning permission for 15 years of oil and gas production at this site. Egdon also said it would also submit a new planning application. North Lincolnshire Council rejected the application on 11 January 2017. At the same meeting, the council approved an application for groundwater monitoring boreholes. Live updates from the meeting, breaking news of the decision and reaction.  Key facts, links and timeline

North Yorkshire

KMA wellsite, Alma Farm, off Habton Road, Kirby Misperton, NY/2015/0233/ENV, (decision C3/15/00971/CPO)

On 20 December 2016, Mrs Justice Lang, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice, dismissed a legal challenge by Friends of the Earth and Frack Free Ryedale. They had sought a judicial review of the decision by North Yorkshire County Council to approve Third Energy’s plans to frack the KM8 well at Kirby Misperton. DrillOrDrop reports on day 1: the challenge and the council’s defence and day 2:  Third Energy’s case and responses Agreements are still required on conditions of the planning permission before work can begin. A protection camp has established nearby. Key facts, links and timeline

Nottinghamshire

Springs Road, Misson ES/3379 (two exploration wells) and F/3321 (12 monitoring boreholes

A legal agreement which finalises the permission for this site has been delayed for a fourth time until 30 May 2017 (details). Permission for two shale gas wells but not fracking was granted at a meeting on 15 November 2016. Details and live updates. Key facts, links and timeline

Thieves Wood, Ravenshead, Wellbeck Estate

It emerged on 1 January that INEOS Shale had been negotiating with the Forestry Commission for access to a site for a potential shale gas well. Thieves Wood is near Ravenshead, south of Mansfield. No application has been submitted.   Key facts, links and timeline

The Lings, Clipstone

On 16 February 2017 Friends of the Earth announced that INEOS Shale had been negotiating with the Forestry Commission for the use of two sites for shale gas exploration. No application has been submitted.

Tinker Lane, between Blyth and Barnby Moor ES/3524

On 21 March 2017, Nottinghamshire County Council’s planning committee voted by the narrowest of margins to aprove IGas ‘s plans for an exploratory shale gas well at land off the A634 between Blyth and Barnby Moor, Bassetlaw. DrillOrDrop report. The permission is subject to a legal agreement still being negotiated. The company has also applied for an environmental permit (EPR/EB3406XP/A001). Key facts, links and timeline

Rotherham

Common Road, Harthill

On 10 March 2017, INEOS Shale submitted a screening request to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council for a 2,800m shale gas well at this site. Key facts, links and timeline

Surrey

Bury Hill Wood (also called Holmwood and Leith Hill), off Coldharbour Lane, near Dorking SCC Ref 2016/0170

The Communities Secretary has ruled that a new application by Europa Oil & Gas requires an environmental impact assessment. The application is to increase the area of the oil exploration site and to install extra security fencing at this site, along with offices, welfare accommodation, water and fuel tanks and a generator. The decision is expected in summer 2017. The lighting management plan for the site was approved by Surrey County Council’s planning committee on 7 December 2016 and a highway condition survey on 22 February. Plans to meet other conditions of the original planning permission remain to be confirmed. A protest camp has established on the drill site and was issued with an injunction on 23 January 2017. Key facts, links and timeline

Horse Hill, near Horley/Gatwick Airport SCC Ref 2016/0189  

Horse Hill Developments Ltd has applied for planning permission for three years for a horizontal sidetrack and a second, deviated, borehole plus extended well testing. Surrey County Council asked the applicant for more information and the likely decision date is 12 July 2017. Key facts, links and timeline

West Sussex

Markwells Wood wells site, South Holt Farm, Dean Lane End, Forestside, near Rowlands Castle SDNP/16/04679/CM

UK Oil and Gas (Investments) PLC has applied to the South Downs National Park Authority for permission to produce oil for 20 years. The application includes drilling a sidetrack well from the existing borehole, three additional hydrocarbon production wells and one water injection well. A decision is expected on 11 May 2017. Key facts, links and timeline

Ones to watch

Cheshire

Rudheath Lodge Farm, Knutsford Road, Cranage CW4 8HJ 16/4724W

We’re watching developments at this site in Cheshire East, where Sibelco has submitted an application for a 75ha silica sand quarry. There is no reference in the application document to use of the sand for hydraulic fracturing and company’s PR consultant told us it was not suitable. However, an unredacted Mineral Resource Assessment, which gives details of the physical and chemical analysis of the sand, has not been submitted with the application, despite being requested by the council and consultees. The site lies in both Cheshire East and Chester and Chester West Council areas. We understand that both authorities will vote on the scheme. Exhibitions on the scheme are planned for 14 and 17 February. (See February Drilling Diary)

Other plans

We’ll also be looking out for applications expected to be submitted by:

• IGas at Baxter’s Copse and West Dean in West Sussex
• Egdon Resources for additional wells in Lincolnshire
• INEOS has said it expects to submit about 10 applications for its licence areas in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire this year. It has identified sites on Forestry Commission land at The Lings near Edwinstowe and Thieves Wood near Ravenshead, both in Nottinghamshire
• UKOG says it will submit an application in PEDL331 on the Isle of Wight

Please let us know about any other proposals which have not yet reached planning application stage by clicking here

Support

DrillOrDrop’s reporting on planning applications and challenges is supported by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. A grant from the trust funded travel and overnight accommodation since autumn 2014. More details here

Links

All the reports from meetings, hearings and appeals have been posted on the DrillOrDrop blogroll. There are links to them all here.

We aims to provide independent, consistent, comprehensive and accurate reporting of the process and decision-making on fracking and conventional oil and gas planning applications.

So far, we’ve reported on:

• Cuadrilla’s appeals against refusals of fracking at Preston New Road and Roseacre Wood
• Approval of Third Energy’s fracking application at Kirby Misperton in North Yorkshire and a judicial review of the decision
• Approval of IGas shale gas plans at Misson in Nottinghamshire
• Refusal of acidisation and proppant squeeze at Wressle in North Lincolnshire
• Decisions in Derbyshire, East Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Swansea and Trafford.

Please let us know if there are applications that we should be reporting on that are not listed here. To get in touch, click here

Last updated 24 April 2017

Rig Watch receives funding from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. More details here