Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which organisation is responsible for carrying out environmental impact assessments for hydraulic fracturing developments.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Where an environmental impact assessment is required, the applicant must produce an environmental statement to accompany the planning application. The local planning authority will consider the environmental statement and other relevant information when determining the planning application.
We do not hold information on the likely future annual costs of environmental impact assessments in respect of hydraulic fracturing development. Estimating annual costs would be difficult given uncertainties over the number of proposals coming forward each year. Additionally the costs of individual environmental impact assessments will depend on factors such as the scope and level of detail of the information required to assess the likely significant environmental effects of the proposal and will vary on a case by case basis
The majority of the cost in respect of an environmental impact assessment will be borne by the applicant. The industry has already committed to undertake environmental impact assessment for any exploration well that involves hydraulic fracturing.
A Government amendment to the Infrastructure Bill requires that, before issuing consent for associated hydraulic fracturing, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change must be satisfied that the environmental impact of the development has been taken into account by the local planning authority.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the cost of the environmental impact assessments required for hydraulic fracturing developments in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16, (c) 2016-17, (d) 2017-18, (e) 2018-19 and (f) 2019-20; and what assessment he has made of how these costs will be met.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Where an environmental impact assessment is required, the applicant must produce an environmental statement to accompany the planning application. The local planning authority will consider the environmental statement and other relevant information when determining the planning application.
We do not hold information on the likely future annual costs of environmental impact assessments in respect of hydraulic fracturing development. Estimating annual costs would be difficult given uncertainties over the number of proposals coming forward each year. Additionally the costs of individual environmental impact assessments will depend on factors such as the scope and level of detail of the information required to assess the likely significant environmental effects of the proposal and will vary on a case by case basis
The majority of the cost in respect of an environmental impact assessment will be borne by the applicant. The industry has already committed to undertake environmental impact assessment for any exploration well that involves hydraulic fracturing.
A Government amendment to the Infrastructure Bill requires that, before issuing consent for associated hydraulic fracturing, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change must be satisfied that the environmental impact of the development has been taken into account by the local planning authority.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether planning guidance provides for a specific approach to planning for hydraulic fracturing in a) national parks, (b) the Broads, (c) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (d) world heritage sites.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 28 July 2014, Official Report, House of Lords, Column WS141, which outlines the current planning guidance in place on this issue.
Planning applications for shale extraction are considered under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, like any other local planning application.
In January, we published a plain English guide to the planning system which explains the limited role of Ministers. It can be found online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plain-english-guide-to-the-planning-system
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what grounds current planning guidance provides for not refusing an application for hydraulic fracturing in (a) national parks, (b) the Broads, (c) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (d) world heritage sites.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 28 July 2014, Official Report, House of Lords, Column WS141, which outlines the current planning guidance in place on this issue.
Planning applications for shale extraction are considered under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, like any other local planning application.
In January, we published a plain English guide to the planning system which explains the limited role of Ministers. It can be found online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plain-english-guide-to-the-planning-system
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he has the power to overturn a decision on an application for hydraulic fracturing in (a) national parks, (b) the Broads, (c) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (d) world heritage sites.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 28 July 2014, Official Report, House of Lords, Column WS141, which outlines the current planning guidance in place on this issue.
Planning applications for shale extraction are considered under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, like any other local planning application.
In January, we published a plain English guide to the planning system which explains the limited role of Ministers. It can be found online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plain-english-guide-to-the-planning-system
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what protections for residual amenity space are provided by the regulatory regimes for (a) planning, (b) environmental permitting and (b) health and safety.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Where residual open space is delivered as part of a new development, local planning authorities can consider imposing conditions that prevent the use of the land for other purposes.
If residual open space comes forward for further development, this is likely to require an application for planning permission which must be considered in line with the local plan and national planning policy for open space. The National Planning Policy Framework provides strong protection in relation to building on open space. The Framework makes clear that existing open space, sports and recreational land should not be built on unless an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown it to be surplus to requirements, or the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location. The Framework also enables local communities to identify green areas of particular importance to them for special protection by designating them as Local Green Space, through the preparation of local and neighbourhood plans.
The regulatory regime for environmental permitting is a matter for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The regulatory regime for health and safety is a matter for the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether it is a requirement that an environmental impact assessment be prepared for all hydraulic fracturing developments.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Currently, where a development involving hydraulic fracturing is likely to have a significant effect on the environment, an environmental impact assessment is required by the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011. The Government is currently considering the detail of the amendment on hydraulic fracturing (NC19) introduced during the Infrastructure Bill last week, and we will make further statements in due course.