RE: New hydrocarbon site in Lincolnshire12 Apr 2023 14:24
“ Planners’ views
IGas has argued that there is a “demonstrable need for oil in the UK”. It said developments like the new Glentworth site would increase energy security, bring new employment and generate tax revenue and business rates.
The planners said the proposal reflected government objectives of encouraging the recovery of indigenous oil supplies. They said:
“This proposal would therefore make a contribution towards meeting current and ongoing needs whilst the UK transitions towards a low carbon future.”
On climate change, the planners said:
“the Committee must apply planning policy as it currently stands and not on the basis of what those opposing the application for climate change reasons interpret the Government’s position to be.”
On landscape, council planners concluded:
“although this development would give rise to some adverse impacts on the visual appearance of the area during the earlier phases of development, the development is entirely reversible in nature and, following the construction, Page 66 testing and production period, the site can be decommissioned and fully restored to an after-use that would be appropriate and assimilate well into the wider landscape.”
On traffic, the planners said if changes to the lorry route were agreed, the road network would be appropriate and “ensure that this proposal would not result in a severe and unacceptable impact on highway safety”. They recommended a designated route that prevented lorries using the part of Northlands Road that runs east from the site entrance towards Northlands Road.
On noise, the planners said drilling noise at the nearest homes would be within levels set by national planning policy and would “not result in an unacceptable harm to residential amenity”.
On wildlife, they said objections about insufficient information on improvements to biodiversity were not enough to reuse the application.”