Fracking in the Headlines

Fracking has been back in the news again this week as the UK Government has released new proposals that will enable energy companies to access land for shale oil and gas developments, without necessarily needing the land owner’s permission.

The new rules, which are aimed at speeding up the introduction of fracking, would grant underground access rights meaning that firms would be able to ‘frack’ at depths of 300 metres. In return, those living above the site of the well would receive a voluntary payment of £20,000 (per horizontal well that extends 200 meters or more).

This follows the publication of a new report from the British Geological Survey (BGS) that suggests 4.4 billion barrels of oil are located in an area of southern England, which stretches from Kent, through to Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire.  While oil is present in the ‘Weald basin’, it has been reported that the ability to extract the oil may prove difficult due to the built-up conditions. Add to this, the report has identified that there is no potential for shale gas extraction in the same area.

With the consultation period now in place, interested parties have until 15 August in which to respond to the outline proposals.  More details on the proposals and how to respond can be accessed from the Department of Energy & Climate Change website.  

Energy and Infrastructure Report

Landmark’s Energy and Infrastructure Report provides an accurate search, for both commercial and residential properties, for a number of selected energy and infrastructure projects across the UK.

Currently the report indicates if the property has the potential to be impacted by any of the following development projects:

·        Areas licensed for on-shore energy exploration and production, including areas licensed for fracking;

·         High Speed 2 rail network (HS2);

·         Existing and proposed Wind Farms and Wind Turbines across the UK;

·         Operating and planned Solar Farms;

·         Crossrail;

·         Yorkshire and Humber Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Cross Country Pipeline

If you are concerned about key energy or infrastructure developments in your area, or for a specific property or plot of land, the Landmark Energy and Infrastructure Report provides valuable data to support your wider due diligence programme.

You can download a sample of the report here.