IGas Energy plc is pleased to announce that its planning application for a proposed project on Springs Road, in the parish of Misson, has today been validated by Nottinghamshire County Council (“NCC”).
The proposal covers works to drill two exploratory wells in order to evaluate the geology in the local area and begin the process of assessing its potential for shale gas recovery.
The application has met all of NCC’s requirements in the required format and it will now undergo a period of public consultation before planning officers make a recommendation to the planning committee. All the associated documents can be viewed on the NCC website
(http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/planningsearch/plandisp.aspx?AppNo=ES/3379)
IGas embarked on a community engagement process that began in early 2014, including the formation of a Community Liaison Group (CLG), providing community representatives with a forum to meet with members of the IGas project team, discuss the proposals and make recommendations. There have also been two public information events to give residents the opportunity to find out more about activity at the proposed site. Further events will be held during the consultation process.
IGas has already incorporated the feedback they have received into the application in areas such as:
- Cultural Heritage: In light of concerns expressed it was decided to construct the wellsite without taking up the existing hard standing and launch pads associated with the site’s former use. Sand will be placed to protect the existing hardstanding area under the wellsite and plant and equipment will be placed having due regard to the features under the wellsite.
- Lighting: A lighting assessment is included as part of the Environmental Statement. All lighting will be inward facing and shrouded.
- Health: Assessments have been undertaken on noise, air quality, hydrology and ground contamination taking into consideration how these will affect local residents and the community. A section is included in the application documents on health, pulling together information on the separate assessments.
- Landscape Character and Visual Impact: A Landscape Assessment is also included in the Environmental Statement to address concerns about visibility of the plant and in particular the rig as the local topography is flat. The impact of the development has been assessed from 19 different viewpoints in the local area.
Commenting Stephen Bowler, CEO of IGas, said:
“The drilling of the wells at Springs Road would be an important step in helping us to understand the shale gas potential in North Nottinghamshire and more widely in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. Natural gas, including gas produced from shale, is important not only for electricity generation, but also for heating over 80% of UK homes and providing feedstock for key manufacturing processes. It is vital that the UK identifies new sources of gas if it is to safeguard the UK’s security of supply, with locally sourced gas also having a positive impact on the environment, jobs and the economy.
“IGas operates assets that have been producing oil and gas in the local area for over three decades. In the East Midlands alone, we have 16 producing fields which account for around 50% of our current production. Our Springs Road operations will be conducted with exactly the same regulatory rigour and robust safety measures.
“As part of our commitment as a responsible operator, we have listened to the local community and have routed traffic north of the site away from the village of Misson. I would encourage local residents to come and talk to us at our events which we will be holding over the coming weeks so they can be reassured that this project will be carried out safely and environmentally sensitively.”
For further information contact the IGas Public Information line on 0203 675 6058.
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