A controversial proposal to drill for gas near the edge of the North York Moors National Park has received a major boost after planning officials said they would not object to the scheme, despite vocal opposition from residents and local authorities.
Europa Oil and Gas Ltd has submitted a planning application for a temporary drilling site near Burniston, just north of Scarborough.
The site would host a 30-metre (98-foot) rig as part of a “proppant squeeze” project aimed at extracting gas from deep underground rock formations. The company describes the initiative as a test operation that, if successful, could lead to the development of a more permanent facility.
While the application has ignited demonstrations and public outcry, with Burniston Parish Council voting to formally object, the North York Moors National Park Authority has concluded that the impact on the protected landscape would be limited. The proposed site lies approximately 800 metres from the park’s boundary.
In a report prepared for the planning committee, officials stated: “Subject to clarification of certain matters and the imposition of appropriate controls, this relatively short-term development would not lead to significant harm to the delivery of national park statutory purposes or to national park special qualities.”
The report acknowledged that the development would cause a “degree of harm” due to its visibility from within the park, but deemed it manageable under current guidelines.
The authority has requested additional information on the duration the drilling rig will remain on site and on the planned route for heavy goods vehicles accessing the area.
At a public meeting last month, more than 70 residents turned out to express concerns about the environmental impact, disruption from vehicle movements, and the broader implications of fossil fuel extraction in a time of climate urgency.
Burniston Parish Council expressed particular worry over the potential for industrialisation of the rural landscape and called for the application to be rejected.
The drilling method, known as a “proppant squeeze”, involves injecting a slurry into the well to fracture surrounding rock layers and release trapped gas.
While some critics argue the technique is a form of small-scale fracking and a loophole in the UK’s moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, industry experts assert that the process uses significantly less fluid and pressure than traditional fracking.
Europa Oil and Gas maintains that the method has been safely and routinely used in the UK and is distinct from the high-volume fracking banned by the government. According to the company’s application, the site holds a potentially “significant gas resource” that could contribute to regional energy supplies.
An environmental statement accompanying the application, listed under reference NY/2025/0030/ENV, invites public feedback under Article 15(3) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.
Should the test prove successful, Europa has indicated it will submit further plans for a long-term gas extraction operation at the site.
Local residents and environmental campaigners say they are continuing to organise and will oppose any expansion of the project. The final decision on the application rests with North Yorkshire Council, which is expected to rule in the coming months.
