13.08.15
Shale gas bids to be ‘fast tracked’ away from councils
Shale gas planning applications will be fast-tracked under a new government decision to override the influence of “slow and confused” councils with greater ministerial power over local administration.
The measure, announced today (13 August), will give councils an ultimatum of 16 weeks to determine oil and gas applications.
If authorities fail to deliver within the assigned statutory timeframe, communities secretary Greg Clark reserves the right to take over all future decision-making in that area.
Ministers will also identify “underperforming” councils that repeatedly fail to make quick decisions in order to transfer administrative powers over their planning applications to Clark.
He said: “People’s safety and the environment will remain paramount and communities will always be involved in planning applications but no one benefits from uncertainty caused by delays in planning decisions.
“By fast tracking any appropriate applications, today’s changes will tackle potential holds ups in the system.”
Energy and climate change secretary, Amber Rudd, added that the industry can’t have a planning system that “sees applications dragged out for months or even years on end”.
“Oversight by the health and safety executive and the Environment Agency of shale developments make our commitment to safety and the environment crystal clear. We now need, above all else, a system that delivers timely planning decisions and works effectively for local people and developers,” she said.
Ministers emphasised that clear shale is a national priority in order to move the country to a low-carbon economy and said applications “can’t be frustrated by slow and frustrated decision-making amongst councils, which benefits no one”.
However Friends of the Earth planning advisor, Naomi Luhde-Thompson, said: “Bulldozing fracking applications through the planning system, against the wishes of local people and councils, will simply fan the flames of mistrust and opposition.
“Local authorities have been following the rules. These changes are being made because the government doesn’t agree with the democratic decisions councils have been making. Rather than riding roughshod over local democracy to suit the interests of a dirty industry, ministers should champion real solutions to the energy challenges we face, such as boosting the UK’s huge renewable power potential and cutting energy waste.”
Under the new measures, Clark will be able to call in on a case by case basis any application for shale explorations.
Ministers will also add shale applications as a specific criterion for recovery of appeals “to ensure no application can fall through the cracks”.