Planning Committee Rejects Burniston Drilling Rig Plan

Councillors on North Yorkshire's Strategic Planning committee have voted to reject plans for a gas drilling rig at Burniston.

The committee met at Scarborough Town hall on Friday afternoon to discuss the proposal from Europa Oil and Gas.

In a meeting lasting nearly 5 hours the councillors rejected the plan on the basis of harm to the heritage coast, the impact on views of the national park  and failures to meet requirements set out in North Yorkshire's mineral plan.

There is however a possibility the committee will have to discuss the plans again, the secretary of state has been asked by a third party to reconsider the need for an additional environmental study, if it's decided that needs to happen then the decision would have to be reconsidered.

The planning committee put forward five reasons for their rejection of the plan.

• The first reason for refusal is heritage cost and landscape harm. The temporary nature of the development does not mitigate the harm from the 37 to 38-meter drilling and work over rigs, associated lighting, and extended operations. The proposal is therefore incompatible with the special character and conservation objectives of the heritage coast and constitutes inappropriate development. The development is therefore contrary to minerals and waste joint plan.

• Reason for refusal two is proximity to residential receptors and amenity impact. The prolonged 24-hour operations, illuminated infrastructure, vibration, air quality, HGV traffic, and associated noise and disturbance would avoid unacceptable cumulative harm to residential amenity in regards to properties within 500 meters and also public health, particularly in this rural coastal setting. The proposal is therefore contrary to minerals and waste joint plan.

• Reason for refusal three is harm to the setting of the North York Moors National Park. The height, siting, and lighting of the drilling and work over rigs would harm views from and the setting of the National Park and the 3.5-kilometer sensitivity zone. Members conclude that the proposal fails to conserve landscape and scenic beauty and has not sensitively been located or designed to minimize adverse effects.

• Reason four is the impact on tourism and lack of economic gain. The potential economic gains have not been demonstrated to exceed the potential environmental impacts when the potentially negative impacts on the tourist industry are accounted for.

• Reason for refusal five is conflict with the Council's climate commitments and sustainability objectives. The proposal conflicts with the Council's adopted climate objectives and fails to demonstrate that its short-term benefits outweigh the longer-term implications of climate mitigation and is contrary to national and local climate commitments with unquantified risks of greenhouse gases, methane, and CO2.

Councillor Andy Brown proposed the motion rejecting the plans, he said National Planning policy Framework clearly states that the location is not suitable for the gas drilling rig.

"The NPPF states that major development with a heritage coast is unlikely to be appropriate unless it's compatible with its special character.

Our own policy, requires us to protect the undeveloped character of the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast.

Having heard the evidence from the parish councils, this is a considerable intrusion into a heritage coast area, and that's not just my personal view, it's the professional assessment of our own North Yorkshire Council landscape architect that on its own, its sufficient grounds for straight rejection."

Councillor Brown went on to detail the other reasons for rejecting the proposal including the damage to local tourism.

This is close to major tourist businesses in Scarborough. You could scarcely have a community that depends more heavily on tourism, and we don't have an assessment of what the economic impact on tourism this development has. We have no assessment of it that available to us, and therefore we can only use our own judgement.

And my judgement  is very clear. It will have a negative impact on tourism if people in London see that fracking is, or sorry, propant squeezing is going on in this area."

Reacting to the committee's decision. Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume MP said: 

“I’m relieved that Europa Oil and Gas’ application to frack in Burniston has been rejected.

The North Yorkshire Council Strategic Planning Committee has made a courageous and correct decision in rejecting the advice of council officers.

From the moment the Europa made their first move, I have stood shoulder to shoulder with my constituents, who overwhelming opposed this plan, throughout and, as I told them outside Scarborough Town Hall before the planning meeting took place, will continue to do so.

I have lobbied tirelessly in Westminster to close the loophole in the fracking moratorium Europa were looking to exploit and will keep pressing ahead to ensure that so-called ‘proppant squeezes’ should be included in the fracking ban.

This afternoon was a triumph for local democracy and local campaigning.”

Local Councillor Rich Maw said:

"4.5 hours. That’s how long today’s Strategic Planning Committee meeting ran... and every minute mattered.

This wasn’t a rubber-stamp exercise. It was detailed, serious scrutiny. Tough questions were asked, evidence was tested, and arguments were challenged from all sides, exactly how democratic decision-making should work.

All the while, hundreds of protesters stood outside, making their voices heard, and a packed public gallery sat behind us - a powerful reminder that this decision carries real weight for our communities, our environment, and future generations.

And today, that message was heard loud and clear.

North Yorkshire Council has said NO to fracking.

This outcome didn’t happen in isolation. It reflects sustained public pressure, grassroots campaigning, and the determination of people who refuse to see their local environment put at risk for short-term gain."

The planning application submitted by Europa Oil and Gas proposed to construct a temporary gas drilling rig in Burniston, near Scarborough.

Key details of the proposal include:

• Objective: To appraise subsurface hydrocarbons (natural gas) on land east of the Mill Yard.

• Infrastructure: The construction of a temporary wellsite featuring a 38-metre tall drilling rig.

• Technique: The use of a lower-volume hydraulic fracturing technique known as "proppant squeeze." This involves pumping gelled fluids and solids (like sand or ceramic particles) into the well at high pressure to create channels in the rock, allowing gas to flow more easily.

• Duration: The development is intended to be temporary, lasting for up to three years, after which the site would undergo restoration and aftercare.

While council planning officers had recommended the scheme for approval, citing no "unacceptable adverse environmental impacts," the proposal has faced significant local opposition and was subject of a debate regarding whether it bypasses the national moratorium on fracking.

​The preliminary refusal is subject to the Government’s appraisal of Europa’s environmental screening and is dependent on whether the Secretary of State requests further details, and could mean the application returns to the planning committee.

​Europa Oil & Gas CEO William Holland said his company would appeal the decision and felt “confident” about winning.

​Residents and activists from across Yorkshire had travelled to the demonstration to voice their concerns, including fears about environmental pollution, cliff stability, noise and light pollution, and impacts on groundwater.

Local ward councillor Derek Bastiman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) after the meeting:

“I’m absolutely over the moon with the results.

​“It’s been a long afternoon, but councillors considered everything, and they explored every avenue. I was very pleased that they listened to us, to me as the divisional member, and the three parish councils I represented.”

​More than 1,600 objections were submitted by residents, local MP Alison Hume, parish councils including Burniston, Cloughton, Newby & Scalby and Scarborough town councils, and Friends of the Earth, among others.