Members of Lancashire County Council's Development Control Committee have today voted to refuse the application by oil and gas company Cuadrilla to explore for shale gas at Preston New Road, Little Plumpton by drilling, hydraulically fracking and testing the flow of gas.
The application to drill, frack and test at Preston New Road, Little Plumpton was refused on the grounds of noise and visual impact.
The committee also refused a separate application for the same site to enable Cuadrilla to monitor its operations because of impact on the landscape.
County Councillor Marcus Johnstone, cabinet member for environment, planning and cultural services, and member of the Development Control Committee, said:
"This is one of the biggest planning decisions ever put before Lancashire County Council. The development control committee has listened very carefully to many hours of evidence both for and against the proposal, and considered the report of the council's planning officers. The decision to refuse this application has been reached by a vote of the committee, which is composed of elected councillors, and each member of the committee has ultimately cast their vote based on the evidence they have heard and whether they think the proposal is acceptable in planning terms, and to the people they represent."
Cuadrilla: "surprised and disapointed" and considering appeals
In a statement issued in response to the refusal, Cuadrilla said it was “surprised and disappointed” that Lancashire County Council’s Development Control Committee had denied planning consent for the application to explore for shale gas at Preston New Road, particularly as their decision followed a positive recommendation by the Council’s Planning Officers.
“We remain committed to the responsible exploration of the huge quantity of natural gas locked up in the shale rock deep underneath Lancashire. We will now take time to consider our options regarding an appeal for Preston New Road, along with also considering appeals for the planning applications recently turned down, against Officer advice, for monitoring and site restoration at Grange Hill, and last week’s decision to refuse the Roseacre Wood application.”
Cuadrilla submitted a detailed 4,000 page Environmental Statement as part of its application and conducted widespread public consultation. “The UK and the EU has a strict regulatory framework for governing oil and gas exploration and production and we have had to secure many permissions and permits before work can start.”, the statement said.
“If we can unlock this shale gas potential it will help create jobs, generate economic growth, help fuel and heat local businesses and homes and boost local tax revenues for Lancashire. It is regrettable that the County Council has decided not to support this application in the face of positive recommendation from all regulators and their own Officers.”