Fracking plan sent back for local decision
Government sends Scarborough gas rig decision back to North Yorkshire Council Slug
By Anttoni James Numminen, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans for a gas drilling rig near Scarborough will not be called in by the Government and will instead be decided on by North Yorkshire Council.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG ) has decided that Europa Oil & Gas’ proposal for a 38m gas drilling rig in Burniston should be determined by the council.
A planning meeting to decide on the scheme, which was recommended for approval by officers, was postponed in January after requests that the Government look into the application.
In a letter on Thursday, February 26, the MHCLG said: “The Secretary of State has carefully considered the policy on calling in planning applications, as set out in the Written Ministerial Statement dated October 26 2012.
“The policy makes it clear that the power to call in a case will only be used very selectively. This policy also gives examples of the types of issues which may lead him to conclude, in his opinion, that the application should be called in.
“The Secretary of State has decided not to call in this application. He is content that it should be determined by the local planning authority.”
More than 1,600 local objections have been made against the proposal, citing environmental concerns, while the oil and gas company behind the plan, which proposes using a controversial “proppant squeeze” method to extract the gas, has previously said there is “no justification for delaying a decision on the application”.
North Yorkshire councillor and Lib Dem group opposition spokesperson for environment, Steve Mason, said: ‘The government has clearly missed the point, or is ignoring the communities. The call-in was requested due to the confusion and lack of clarity on the definition of fracking.
“First, the minister said there would be no review to close the loophole, then they said they would review the situation. Will they? Won’t they? This is simply passing the buck to North Yorkshire councillors and officers, trying to make planning policy work under misguided, narrow semantic legislation.
“We all know it’s fracking, so treat it as such. It’s banned; therefore, it should not be approved.”
Europa has previously said the scheme would be positive for the local economy and “no-one is going to notice” its presence.
The firm has insisted drilling would comply with “industry best practice” and environmental standards.
Plans for the proposed wellsite, which is located 350 metres to the east of the village of Burniston, 700 metres southwest of the coastline, and 800 metres south of the North York Moors National Park boundary, were first announced in 2024.
NYC said there were “no material planning considerations that warrant its refusal”, and added that “there would be no unacceptable adverse environmental impacts resulting from the proposed development”.
No justification for delay
Europa has previously said there is “no justification for delaying a decision on the application”.
Residents in the area, including local farmers, have said they are seriously concerned by the potential environmental impacts of the proposal, including on underground waterways.
Yasmin Khan, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby Green Party, said: “We are so disappointed in the Secretary of State’s decision to not call in the Europa fracking application.
“The Labour Party continues to ignore previous commitments to green energy and shows further disdain for people on the Yorkshire Coast who strongly oppose fracking in all forms.”
Chris Garforth, of Frack Free Coastal Communities, said: “We will redouble our efforts to present our case to the committee that the report cannot be relied on as a basis for approval. To that end, we await with interest a response to letters to the CEO of North Yorkshire Council, from FFCC as well as others, suggesting that the handling of this planning application should be subject to an external professional review.”
NYC’s assistant chief executive, legal and democratic services, Barry Khan, said: “We have been notified by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government that he has decided not to call in the planning application that seeks permission to construct a temporary wellsite to assess the potential for natural gas at Burniston, near Scarborough.
“He is content that we, as the local planning authority, should determine the application,” Mr Khan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Europa declined to comment on the decision.