Planning Service The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and REDACTED Industrial Strategy REDACTED@.gov.uk

REDACTED [email protected]

By Email 22 January 2020 Dear Sir/Madam

Third Energy UK Gas Limited

Application under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 to keep installed the overhead line at Ochre Farm, Carr, East Knapton, Malton.

Ryedale District Council is the Planning Authority for the area in which the application is located. The District Council’s response to the application was agreed by the Council’s Planning Committee at its meeting on the 21 January 2020 and is as follows:

The Knapton Generating Station and associated overhead line at Ochre Farm have been operational in Ryedale since the 1990’s and the operations have not resulted in any significant level of complaints over noise, disturbance or amenity issues. In this respect, the continued operation of the facilities to 2035 to support from existing consented, conventional gas extraction in the Vale of Pickering does not raise concerns for this authority.

Notwithstanding this point, it is the District Council’s understanding that conventional gas production in the Vale of Pickering is declining. To this end, the applications are not supported by a detailed or explicit justification as to why the infrastructure is required to the period 2035.

Ryedale District Council is mindful that Third Energy has submitted applications to North County Council to extend permission for consented activity at well –sites in the Vale of Pickering. The District Council’s response to those applications was as follows:

“Ryedale District Council is strongly opposed to the exploitation of unconventional gas resources through hydraulic fracturing in the Vale of Pickering. The applications are, in part justified on the basis that the development proposed would ensure that a network of infrastructure is in place to support hydraulic fracturing in the future. This is not acceptable to this Authority and it objects to the applications on this basis.

The development should and can only be justified on the basis of what the applicant is applying for. In this instance this is for an extension of time to undertake existing consented activity. In this respect, it is considered that the only information that is required to support the application and which should be considered as part of the decision-making process, is information which is confined to conventional gas production. However, against a context of what this Council understands to be a substantial decline in conventional gas production in the Vale of Pickering, it is considered that there is insufficient information to justify why a further extension of time of 17 years and a further borehole at the KM-A well site is required. There is insufficient information relating to or justifying the rate of production or anticipated levels/rate of continued exploitation of the conventional reserves. This Authority also objects to the applications on this basis and the lack of information provided to justify

Ryedale District Council, Ryedale House, Malton, , YO17 7HH Tel: 01653 600666 Fax: 01653 690834 Email: [email protected] working with you to make a difference

the development applied for.”

Whilst the District Council is aware that its views are sought on the continued operation of the infrastructure, it objects to the applications to extend the operational life of the generating station and the overhead lines if (as the applications to NYCC would indicate) these have been made in order to support the generation of electricity from hydraulic fracturing in the future.

Yours Sincerely

REDACTED

REDACTED Planning and Development Manager

Ryedale District Council, Ryedale House, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 7HH Tel: 01653 600666 Fax: 01653 690834 Email: [email protected] working with you to make a difference