Planning permission for exploratory fracking dismissed
June 22, 2022
In June 2022, the Secretary of State found in favour of the council’s case and dismissed the appellant’s application for planning permission for exploratory fracking and preliminary investigation of shale gas extraction. The case is notable for the Secretary of State’s recognition that fracking for shale gas extraction was unacceptable in planning and environmental terms and contrary to the UK’s policies on climate change. It is also an extreme example of the Secretary of State’s delay in making decisions as there was a three year delay in reaching his decision after the conclusion of the inquiry. Nonetheless the case represents a landmark and important decision in the history of fracking and oil and gas exploration in the UK.
Judgment was handed down on June 7th 2022. The council were represented by Robert Griffiths QC and Nicola Strachan.
