UK Oil & Gas plc urged the Government to implement quickly its changes to the planning system after the High Court rejected challenges to the Loxley gas project in Surrey.
JUDICIAL REVIEW
Waverley Borough Council and Protect Dunsfold were each unsuccessful in their requests for a judicial review and ordered to pay £8,835 and £3,000 respectively, said UKOG.
The High Court ruling follows the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities‘ decision in June to overturn Surrey County Council’s (SCC) refusal of planning consent.
“It is the company’s and its legal counsel’s view that, whilst further challenges by either claimant are to be expected, the emphatic rulings of both the SoS [Secretary of State] and [the Honourable Mrs] Justice Lang make the likelihood of their success highly doubtful,” added UKOG in a statement.
“In any case, the company will continue to rigorously defend its position in any subsequent action as and when it may occur.”
CHANGES
Chief executive Stephen Sanderson said that it was unfair and unjust that opponents to the decision were given so many opportunities to make the same argument “repeatedly and seemingly regardless of prior dismissals”.
“We therefore urge the Government to swiftly implement its proposed changes to the planning system for key infrastructure projects if it is serious about delivering energy self-sufficiency and associated meaningful economic growth.”