Fracking: South East

(asked on 26th March 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to protect Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Parks and other protected areas from environmental damage from shale oil drilling in the South East of England.


Answered by
 Portrait
Claire Perry
This question was answered on 6th April 2018

National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and The Broads have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty and the National Planning Policy Framework states that planning permission should be refused for major development, except in exceptional circumstances and where it can be demonstrated that it is in the public interest.

In addition, National Planning Policy is clear that the relevant planning authorities have the power to assess and restrict the cumulative effects of any potential developments, including any adverse impacts on the natural or historical environment.

The Government continues to hold the view that these protections are sufficient.

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