Nottinghamshire County Council's Planning and Licensing Committee has granted planning consent for an application by IGas Energy plc to develop a hydrocarbon wellsite and drill up to two exploratory wells in Misson Springs, North Nottinghamshire.
Commenting on the decision, Stephen Bowler, CEO of IGas, one of the UK’s leading onshore producers of hydrocarbons, said:
"I am pleased that the Committee has made this positive determination following the recommendation by the Planning Officer. It has been a long process and everyone has been extremely thorough. “
“We are at a critical juncture in the future of our energy mix and supply, as we move away from coal towards lower carbon energy sources. We rely significantly on gas in the UK, not just for electricity, but also in heating 8 out of 10 homes and as a raw material in the manufacture of many everyday products, including plastics and clothing. We believe the future of the area is as important as its rich history and, with the demise of coal mining in the area, see an important role for shale development in the creation of future jobs and prosperity.”
The consent will enable IGas to develop a hydrocarbon wellsite and drill up to two exploratory hydrocarbon wells (one vertically and one horizontally) to help the firm better understand the shale gas potential in North Nottinghamshire.
Stephen Bowler continued:
“At this stage we, as well as other onshore operators around the country, are trying to establish if the significant quantities of gas that we have identified exists in the right formations to be commercially prospective and address the issue of security of supply that we face. “
Environmental organisation Greenpeace reacted swiftly to the news, saying that Nottingham Council had approved the bid "despite considerable local opposition."
No party has overall control at Nottinghamshire county council - the biggest party is Labour which has recently called for a ban. According to Greenpeace, of 2,629 representations from individuals to the council’s consultation on the proposal, only nine were in favour of the plan.
Commenting on the consultation, Stephen Bowler said:
“We have engaged with the community at every step of the process through a local community liaison group. This is important to us given we operate 30 fields across the country and understand how imperative it is to work in co-operation with local residents whilst we work safely and sensitively.”
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