Fracking - Response from the Royal Borough of Greenwich

Response from the Royal Borough of Greenwich council after request for information by Councillor Spencer Dury on behalf of The Progress Estate Residents Association

For a company to be able to undertake fracking in the borough, they are first required to obtain a Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence (PEDL) from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). DECC invited companies wishing to frack in the UK to apply for a PEDL by 23rdOctober 2014 under the latest round (14th round) of Onshore Oil and Gas Licensing. DECC have advised officers that it is too early to confirm the outcome of applications, but it is anticipated that licence offers will be announced during the early part/ spring of 2015.  The applications are commercially confidential and DECC are unable to comment on the names of the companies that may have applied or the areas where applications may have been made.  Granting of a PEDL licence does not give permission for any fracking activity, but provides companies exclusive rights to drill in a given area for a set period of time. It is not considered likely that any licence will be sought or awarded in the borough, and any fracking company granted a licence by DECC would still be required to negotiate access with the landowner; obtain planning permission from the Council to drill; undertake a public consultation; undertake a geological assessment; and obtain the necessary permissions and  clearance from the Environment Agency, Health and Safety Executive and DECC. The Council’s Planning Team have confirmed that no fracking applications have been received. Should an application be received, the Council would be required to give the application due consideration through the planning process. However given the urban nature of the area, limited space for exploration and mapping undertaken by the British Geological Survey which does not include London as a key area for shale gas, the Council believes it would be unlikely that a company would seek to frack in the borough. I can therefore confirm that there is no evidence at the present time that fracking will take place in Eltham, or elsewhere in the borough. If you have any further enquiries please let me know.