Draft Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing (Protected Areas) Regulations 2015

Liz Saville Roberts Excerpts

Tuesday 27th October 2015 General Committees

[Andrea Leadsom]

Yes, I can give my right hon. Friend that reassurance. The Government’s intention is to announce soon the areas in which it will not be possible for drilling to take place at the surface, and that will include all of our most valuable areas. At the moment we are defining the scope and precisely how the arrangements will work. I hope that totally reassures him and other hon. Members.

The Government recognise that some concerns have been expressed about fracking being carried out from wells drilled at the surface of some of the UK’s most valuable areas; in particular a number of groups have voiced concern about sites of special scientific interest. The national planning policy framework already makes it clear that a development should not normally be permitted if, either individually or in combination with other developments, it is likely to have an adverse effect on special interest features of an SSSI. That applies even if the development itself is outside the boundary of the SSSI.

In addition, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended, consenting authorities have a duty to conserve and enhance the features of sites of special scientific interest; that duty must be incorporated in their decision making. We have considered carefully how we can protect SSSIs and are confident that the existing planning and regulatory regime already accords them strong protections.

I stress that even when the draft regulations and the surface restrictions are in place, a company looking to develop shale will always need to obtain all the necessary permissions, including planning and environmental permits, before hydraulic fracturing can be carried out.

[Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC)]

I note what the Minister has said about national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, but within the planning regime—certainly within Wales, which is what I am familiar with—there is also a requirement to abide by planning rules in areas where there would be a visual impact on national parks. She mentioned that surface works will not be permitted within national parks, but will the visual impact requirement also be in place, or will there be a rule about how near to national parks and other areas of special interest surface works may be carried out?