Ineos Frack Consent Faces Legal Challenge

A residents’ group in Yorkshire is challenging the UK government over a drilling and fracking consent given to UK shale explorer Ineos.

Lawyers for the group, Leigh Day, said October 2 that Ineos's initial application for shale gas exploratory drilling and fracking at Harthill was rejected by Rotherham council in January 2018 but was then referred by Ineos to the UK Planning Inspectorate for an inquiry which took place in April 2018. That inspectorate approved Ineos’ application on June 6 and announced its decision the next day.

On behalf of the Harthill Against Fracking (HAF) group, Leigh Day said October 2 it is bringing a challenge against UK Communities secretary of state James Brokenshire’s decision upholding the inspectorate’s decision. The hearing will take place November 13 at the High Court in London. Leigh Day and HAF hope the court will order a new inquiry.

Anna Dews, solicitor at Leigh Day, said: added: “By admitting key evidence, served on our client by Ineos only ten days before the inquiry started, and about which our client was unable to respond properly, we believe the inspector breached the common law.” Leigh Day’s previous attempt in April to overturn a Planning Inspectorate/Communities Dept fracking decision in Cuadrilla’s favour was unsuccessful; two weeks ago Cuadrilla secured final approvals to frack two horizontal wells in northwest England. (Banner photo credit: Cuadrilla)