Wave of Fracking Applications Submitted Since Conservative Election Win

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Since the Conservatives won a majority in the general election just over three weeks ago, there has been an increase in the number of planning applications submitted relating to hydraulicย fracturing.

This observation comes after a marked rise in the share price of many fracking companies since fracking-friendly Amber Rudd was selected as secretary of state for the Department of Energy and Climateย Change.

And while fracking did not get a direct mention in the Queenโ€™s speech on Wednesday, it was noted that โ€œmeasures will be introduced to increase energy security and to control immigration.โ€

โ€˜Energy Securityโ€™ has often been highlighted as one of the major reasons for pushing ahead with fracking, and this subtle implication could be interpreted as continued support in the push for more unconventional oil and gas extraction in the UK.

Let the Applicationsย Begin

Firstly, and perhaps most controversially, is news of Third Energyโ€™s planning application to hydraulically stimulate and test its existing gas well at Kirbyย Misperton.

The application was submitted to North Yorkshire County Council by the energy company lastย Friday.

The recently elected Conservative MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey, Kevin Hollinrake, wants to ensure that fracking is safe if it is to get theย go-ahead.

Hollinrake took over as the Conservative Party candidate after Anne McIntosh was deselected last year. This was quite controversial at the time, as McIntosh was outspoken against fracking and was also the chairwoman of the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs’ Selectย Committee.

In addition, McIntosh did not support the governmentโ€™s Infrastructure Bill, and demanded that the governmentโ€™s heavily redacted report on fracking be made wholly transparent for theย public.

Third Energyโ€™s other controversial planning application, submitted in September 2014 for two waste water reinjection wells at Ebberston Moor, was due to be discussed by the North York Moors Planning Committee on Thursday 14 May, but discussions have been deferred yet again and itโ€™s likely that they will be debated at some point inย June.

Conservativeย Control

Meanwhile, in East Yorkshire, Rathlin Energy is seeking approval of plans for a second exploratory oil and gas well at the West Newton site, in Holderness, Eastย Yorkshire.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which remains a Conservative-controlled council following the 2015 local elections, has recommended that the application should be granted to the company but the councilโ€™s planning committee will make the final decision on Thursday 4ย June.

Many of the people who objected to the application raised concerns about Rathlin Energy breaching environmental permits at their existing drilling site at Westย Newton.

In North Nottinghamshire, IGas has identified a new site where it wants to explore for shale gas. Nottinghamshire County Council announced on Monday that IGas had asked for a scoping opinion on the site: the first step that needs to be taken before making a full planningย application.

According to the press release, the site is off Springs Road, north-east of Misson, in Bassetlaw, near the local authority boundary with Doncaster and North Lincolnshire. IGas is expected to submit a planning application at the end ofย June.

Lastly, it was brought to the public’s attention this week that Nick Grealy, the chief executive of London Local Energy, has applied for a hydrocarbon licence in the London Borough of Merton. As well as Merton, the company has also applied for a licence in North London and other parts ofย Surrey.

Grealy is expecting a response from the government by August this year, and, if successful, the drilling could start at the end of nextย year.

@benjameslucas

Photo: Cuadrilla via Creativeย Commons

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Ben Lucas is currently pursuing an Investigative Journalism Masterโ€™s degree at the City University of London. He has a particular interest in UK and international politics, economics and environmentalย issues.

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