Policy information sourced from the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan
CSM 10: Oil, Gas and Unconventional Hydrocarbons
Planning permission will be granted for proposals associated with the exploration, appraisal and production of oil, gas and unconventional hydrocarbons subject to:
- well sites and associated facilities being sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise impacts on the environment and communities
- developments being located outside Protected Groundwater Source Areas
- there being no unacceptable adverse impacts (in terms of quantity and quality) upon sensitive water receptors including groundwater, water bodies and wetland habitats
- all other environmental and amenity impacts being mitigated to ensure that there is no unacceptable adverse impact on the local environment or communities
- exploration and appraisal operations being for an agreed, temporary length of time
- the drilling site and any associated land being restored to a high quality standard and appropriate after-use that reflects the local landscape character at the earliest practicable opportunity
- it being demonstrated that greenhouse gases associated with fugitive emissions from the exploration, testing and production activities will not lead to unacceptable adverse environmental impacts
Particular consideration will be given to the location of hydrocarbon development involving hydraulic fracturing having regard to impacts on water resources, seismicity, local air quality, landscape, noise and lighting impacts. Such development will not be supported within protected groundwater source protection zones or where it might adversely affect or be affected by flood risk or within Air Quality Management Areas or protected areas for the purposes of the Infrastructure Act 2015, section 50.
For more information please see the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan