Mistrust warning over fracking plans
Deepening mistrust between the fracking industry and communities would result from diverting decision-making about applications to carry out the drilling process to a national level, MPs have warned.
DEEPENING MISTRUST between the fracking industry and communities would result from diverting decision-making about planning applications to carry out the controversial drilling process to a national level, MPs have warned.
The housing, communities and local government committee, led by Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts, has today released a report into planning guidance on hydraulic fracturing.
It cautions the Government against its proposed move to bring applications under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime, which are aimed at getting the industry up and running.
The committee concludes that Mineral Planning Authorities – councils responsible for planning control of minerals development – are best placed to understand the local area and how fracking can best take place.
There is little evidence that it would speed up the planning application process and “could be perceived as a significant loss to local decision-making”, the report said.
Anti-fracking campaigners staged a bitter protest against Third Energy, which hoped to carry out work in Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire. And earlier this year, more than 3,000 objections from residents were received over planned shale gas exploration at Marsh Lane in Sheffield, while a further 67,000 people across the world had signed a petition against fracking in Derbyshire.
The report states that, should the Government press ahead with plans to include fracking in the NSIP regime, a National Policy Statement must be produced urgently to ensure the cumulative impact of applications is considered automatically and every decision is consistent with Local Plans.
It also warned against plans to give non-fracking shale exploration permitted development rights, commonly used in home extensions to allow small-scale work without planning permission.
Mr Betts said: “Taking decision making powers away from local planning authorities would be a backward step.
“It would remove the important link between fracking applications and Local Plans and be hugely harmful to local democracy and the principles and spirit of localism.
“It is Mineral Planning Authorities that have the knowledge of their areas needed to judge the impacts of fracking, not Ministers sitting in Whitehall.
“Any move to alter this process also seriously risks worsening the often strained relationship between local residents and the fracking industry.
“The Government has failed to provide any justification as to why fracking is a special case and should be included in the regime in contrast to general mineral applications.”
And committee member Kevin Hollinrake, the MP for Thirsk and Malton, said North Yorkshire County Council, together with North York Moors National Park and York Council have developed an “excellent Minerals Plan that includes strong protections for the landscape”.
He added: “I am concerned that these proposals could allow for a range of fracking related activities without a need for planning permission, if they are treated as permitted development.”
The Government is opening a consultation into the issue later in the summer.
It has been approached for a comment.
It would be hugely harmful to local democracy. Clive Betts MP, chairman of the housing, communities and local government committee.