North Yorkshire County Council is currently processing a planning application relating to testing for shale gas at an existing well site near Kirby Misperton in North Yorkshire – planning officers have recommended that Third Energy should be allowed to proceed.

The County Council's planning committee is currently discussing the application at a meeting taking place today – a second meeting is also planned for Monday.

Commenting on the recommendation by North Yorkshire County Council to approve the planning application to hydraulically fracture the KM8 well, Rasik Valand, Chief Executive of Third Energy said:

“We are pleased that the Planning Officer has recommended that North Yorkshire County Council approve our application.  Within our application, and throughout North Yorkshire County Council’s thorough assessment of it, including various stages of consultation, and through all the additional information provided, we have addressed the wide range of questions, concerns and comments raised by NYCC, statutory consultees and others. This work is reflected in the Planning Officer’s Report together with the planning conditions proposed.  We believe that this thorough report will enable North Yorkshire County Council to reach a positive determination on our application."

The Environment Agency has already issued three environmental permits necessary for the proposed hydraulic fracturing of the KM8 well at Kirby Misperton in North Yorkshire. The permits are:

• Mining Waste Operation, including a Mining Waste Facility
• Groundwater Activity Permit
• Radioactive Substances Activity Permit

John Dewar, Operations Director at Third Energy said the issuing of the permits demonstrated that the Environment Agency is satisfied that the hydraulic fracturing operation, including frac fluid which is non-hazardous to ground water and the disposal of the flow back water, can be managed without impacting on the local environment.

Commenting on today's meeting, Michael Bradshaw, Professor of Global Energy at Warwick Business School said:

"This is a very important decision for the nascent shale gas industry in the UK and the Government. If the cumulative consequence of local planning decisions is that the shale gas industry fails to obtain a ‘social licence to operate' then the Government that champions 'localism' will surely have to bow to the outcome of local democracy.”

He described the initial application as a “much more modest proposition than Cuadrilla’s applications in Lancashire” as it involves the use of hydraulic fracturing at an existing vertical well in an area where there is already conventional onshore production and a pipeline connection to a nearby power station.

Professor Bradshaw continued:

"After its exuberant and unqualified support for ‘going all out for shale' the Government has now adopted a more measured and qualified approach that supports a safe and responsible programme of exploration. However, the current regulatory regime requires that County Councils grant planning permission and this has become the focal point for campaigners who want a ban on fracking. This puts the planning officers in an unenviable position.”

“To put further pressure on the Councillors, the Government has sought to ensure that decisions are reached within the statutory time frame."