Shale On Hold?

We noted in January that planning appeals would be important for shale gas exploration this year. Cuadrilla submitted its appeals in September against Lancashire County Council's decisions to refuse planning permission for temporary shale gas exploration at its Preston New Road and Roseacre Wood sites (and an application for monitoring installations at Preston New Road). We should expect a forensic bunfight but a clearer path for other schemes when it ends.

Prospectors for appeal

Cuadrilla will be confident of its chances. The Preston New Road refusal – on noise and landscape grounds – was against officer recommendations and hard to square with the planning policy and guidance on temporary effects. It will have to show that it has done the best job of mitigating the landscape, noise and traffic impacts though.