High Court action over Lincolnshire Wolds oil drilling dispute

Opponents of plans to drill for oil in the Lincolnshire Wolds are taking legal action in the High Court.

Lincolnshire County Council refused permission for the site near the village of Biscathorpe.

However, in 2023 the Planning Inspectorate approved the application saying the national need for oil made it "in the public interest".

Local group, SOS Biscathorpe has successfully filed for a Statutory Review of the decision.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the grounds for the legal challenge are that permission should be refused for major developments in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, unless there are "exceptional circumstances" and it is in the public interest.

The campaigners argue the potential oil yield from Biscathorpe, estimated to be 0.03% of the UK's total oil production, does not justify the environmental impact on the landscape.

Planning inspectors imposed a condition on oil drilling to cease before the end of November 2039, with the land returning to wildlife habitat or agricultural space thereafter.

Amanda Suddaby from SOS Biscathorpe said the plan to drill for oil "defies all logic".

"Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty have recently been re-branded 'National Landscapes' to reflect the important role they play in mitigating against climate change and ecological breakdown," she said.

"It is therefore impossible to see how fossil fuel development in these precious areas can be justified."

The dispute dates back to 2014 when drilling was initially permitted in the area, however Lincolnshire County Council rejected further oil exploration.

The case is expected to be heard later this year.

LDRS has contacted the site's developer Egdon Resources Ltd for comment.

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