Fracking in Rotherham
Fracking has never been carried out in Rotherham but companies licensed by the Oil and Gas Authority are investigating the potential for fracking schemes in some areas of the borough.
Rotherham has a long history of industry, in particular coal mining. It has significant reserves of oil and gas from unconventional sources like coal bed methane and shale gas.
The UK's national oil and gas regulator has issued licences, for onshore oil and gas exploration in 10km x 10km blocks, to various companies (including CUADRILLA, IGAS, INEOS) in the Rotherham area.
The licences (issued by the Department of Energy and Climate Change - DECC) grant exclusive rights to oil and gas operators in a given area. Operators must also get the necessary consents and planning permission before beginning any activities on that land.
View the licensed areas in the borough
Harthill Application
Following the Appeal Inquiry the Council received notification from the Planning Inspectorate that the appeal has been allowed. The full appeal report and background can be viewed on the link below.
View the Planning Application and appeal background
Woodsetts Application
Application RB2017/1577 was refused on 9 March 2018 following the Planning Board of 8 March 2018 in which members resolved to refuse the application on Ecology and Highway grounds.
A new application with the reference RB2018/0918 was submitted in June 2018. This revised application was similar to the previous application RB2017/1577 (it included the same proposal, site area, and timescales etc.) with some additional bird breeding survey work submitted and an addendum to the Planning Statement including reference to the Harthill Appeal.
Members resolved to refuse this application at a Planning Board on Friday 7 September 2018 on Highway and Noise grounds. Full details including the Decision Notice can be viewed on the link below.
On 17 January 2019 the Council received notification from the Planning Inspectorate that an appeal has been submitted. The Council does not currently have timescales or dates of when a future Planning Inquiry will take place. These details will be updated when received on the application link below: