The decision made by planning inspector Elizabeth Hill – appointed on behalf of the government – is to grant INEOS planning permission, subject to conditions, to erect a drilling rig up to 60 metres tall and drill around 2,400 metres below the ground, off Bramleymoor Lane to investigate the suitability of the rock for 'fracking'. This is the process of injecting water and chemicals at high pressure into rocks deep underground to create tiny cracks so shale gas can flow up a well to the surface and be collected.
The site
Bramleymoor Lane is located 0.5km to the south-west of Marsh Lane, near Eckington, in north east Derbyshire district.
View a map of the drilling site.
View the planning application.
Background information
February 2017
We decided an environmental impact assessment was not needed for proposals by INEOS for the development at Bramleymoor Lane.
May 2017
INEOS submitted its planning application. We held two public consultations about the proposals over the following months.
June 2017
A government minister gave a direction which agreed an environmental impact assessment was not needed.
December 2017
INEOS appealed to the Planning Inspectorate before we were ready to decide on the application. The firm said it could not continue to wait for a decision and the Planning Inspectorate ruled that the planning application should be decided by public inquiry.
INEOS submitted a second application for identical development - a process known as 'twin-tracking' - soon after it made the appeal.
January 2018
Our Planning Committee decided not to deal with a repeat application from INEOS for the same development at Bramleymoor Lane.
February 2018
Our Planning Committee members voted to reject the recommendation of our planning officers that the proposal by INEOS would be acceptable if strict planning controls are put in place. We decided an environmental impact assessment was not needed for this proposal.
May 2018
Planning Sub-Committee members met to reconsider objections put forward by the planning committee in February 2018 and voted to continue with a case on traffic grounds as well as harm to the open nature of the Green Belt and unacceptable night-time noise.
June 2018
A public inquiry lasting 8 days was held at Chesterfield's Assembly Rooms to decide whether INEOS should be granted planning permission for the development. The final decision was to be taken by a planning inspector on behalf of the government.
Find out more about the planning process.