Plans to construct a temporary wellsite in North Yorkshire to explore the potential for natural gas have been rejected by a council’s planning committee.
North Yorkshire Council’s planning committee turned down the application from oil and gas exploration, development and production company, Europa Oil & Gas, for a site in Burniston, near Scarborough, despite planning officers recommending approval.
Europa Oil & Gas, which wants to install a 38-metre drilling rig and use a “proppant squeeze” method to extract gas for testing, said it would mount an appeal.
William Holland, chief executive officer of the business, said: “Our planning application for the well at Burniston was underpinned by 13 expert reports and exhaustive preparatory work. It was also recommended by the council’s own planning department.
“We shall appeal the decision and remain of the view that the well can be safely and efficiently delivered and is in the best interests both of the local community and the country.”
The firm notes a final recommendation is pending a decision by the Secretary of State over the need for an environmental screening assessment to be carried out relating to the proposal, despite the company having opted to voluntarily complete and submit an environmental screening assessment as part of its planning application.
Europa Oil & Gas notes it is confident that on appeal the planning permission will be approved.
It emphases that following implementation of its separate Wressle wellsite, which was approved on appeal, initial local opposition and concern has “disappeared” and the local community is now highly supportive.
The business says this demonstrates how a well-run operation can be conducted without negatively impacting local people.
