Legal challenge against oil well development will not be contested

Planning consent given in September to further develop a Humber oil well is expected to be quashed due to a legal challenge.

Last month, Union Jack Oil plc, an onshore hydrocarbon, production, development, exploration and investment company, confirmed it had won planning consent for the further development of the Wressle well site.

But today – 18 October – the business said it has been informed North Lincolnshire Council (NLC), which has taken legal advice on the matter, will not seek to resist a proposed legal challenge to its previous decision on the Wressle site.

The proposed legal challenge is based on NLC omitting to request data that details the likely Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions as part of its process in granting planning approval.

A spokesman for Union Jack Oil explained: “Having sought their own legal advice, the Wressle Joint Venture partners have concluded they would not be in a position to defend the proposed legal claim.

“As such it is fully expected that the planning consent will be quashed once the court process has concluded.

“The forward plan, on conclusion of the court process, is to seek a new screening opinion from NLC with additional supporting data that details the likely Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions.

“Depending on the outcome of this screening opinion either the existing ‘live’ application would be re-determined by NLC or an Environmental Impact Assessment would be submitted.

“This decision has no effect on the ongoing current operations or production at Wressle, which remains profitable.”