WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Planning for unconventional oil and gas

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Lord
Ahmad of Wimbledon): This Coalition Government believes that shale gas has the potential
to provide the UK with greater energy security, growth and jobs. Effective exploration and
testing of the UKs unconventional gas resources is key to understanding the potential for this
industry so the Government is creating the right framework to accelerate unconventional oil
and gas development in a responsible and sustainable way.

That is why this Coalition Government has put in place an effective planning system to support
unconventional oil and gas production in this country. We have amended regulations to
streamline notification requirements and the calculation of fees to speed up the determination of
planning applications, whilst ensuring the public are properly informed of planning applications
in their locality. We have also updated planning guidance on oil and gas development to
provide clarity on the role of the planning system and we have introduced a streamlined
common application form to ensure less onerous requirements on the industry. Other
regulators, including the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Environment Agency
and the Health and Safety Executive will address sub-surface issues to protect against seismic
disturbance or pollution of groundwater. Close working between all regulatory bodies will
ensure that there remains a robust, comprehensive and safe regulatory regime in place.

To further the exploration and testing of our unconventional gas resources, the Department of
Energy and Climate Change is today inviting applications for new onshore licences in the
area defined in the Strategic Environmental Assessment which has been conducted for further
onshore licensing. More details are outlined in todays Written Ministerial Statement by
Baroness Verma.

It is important to note that this Coalition Government recognises there are areas of
outstanding landscape and scenic beauty where the environmental and heritage qualities need
to be carefully balanced against the benefits of oil and gas from unconventional
hydrocarbons. For this reason, my Department is today making clear our approach to
planning for unconventional hydrocarbons in National Parks, the Broads, Areas of
Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites, by providing some additional planning
guidance. Proposals for such development must recognise the importance of these sites. The
guidance is available on the Minerals section of the Governments planning guidance website
at: http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/ and a copy of the new section has been
placed in the Library of the House.

We want to ensure that the Governments intentions in respect to development concerning
unconventional hydrocarbons in these areas are given appropriate effect. So for the next 12
months from today, in applying the Secretary of States policy on recovering planning
appeals (as stated in 30 June 2008, Official Report, House of Commons, Column 43WS), my
Department will give particular attention to recovering appeals for such developments. The
position on the recovery of appeals will be reviewed after 12 months.