Community Commitment

We are an experienced and responsible UK company with a strong track record on environmental issues.

As part of our commitment to local stakeholders, the project has an established Environmental Management System that ensures the environment will be protected during all operational activities, as well as restored to its original condition after the operation has been completed.

Land

A high-density polyethylene (HDPE) membrane will be installed across the entire site to provide a protective layer and ensure the land beneath is unaffected by site operations. There will also be containment ditches around the site designed to contain fluids.

Watercourses

A specialist surface water interceptor will be installed to prevent any flood risk and ensure that any discharged water is clean, and local watercourses will be monitored for water quality.

Groundwater

Groundwater monitoring boreholes will be installed on site to a depth of c.50m so that samples of groundwater can be taken and analysed to ensure operations are not having a detrimental impact.

Air quality

There will be a monitoring process in place to measure and quantify any emissions from the site.

Environmental impact assessment

An environmental impact assessment will accompany the application for development at Burniston Mill, in line with the North Yorkshire Council’s request.

The planning application is supported by the following technical reports. These reports are undertaken by respected, independent environmental specialists and will be submitted as part of our planning application. They help inform the planning decision process and may feed through into specific planning conditions to manage potential impacts.

Local residents will be able to review all these documents in the council’s planning portal once the planning application is submitted.

Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment

Landscape Visual Impact Assessment

Lighting Assessment

Transport Statement

Noise Assessment

Air Quality Assessment

Agricultural Land Quality and Soils Assessment

Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Assessment

Flood Risk Assessment, Hydrogeological Risk Assessment and Surface Water Drainage Assessment

Regulations

The UK has very strict environmental regulations. With these regulations in place, the testing and production of natural gas reserves can be done safely and responsibly, minimising risks to the environment and public health.

Additional community benefits

As well as the national security, climate and economic benefits of producing gas in the UK, we aim to support the local economy too. If our planning application is successful, the operation in Burniston will create and support jobs and encourage increased community investment.

While the development is both temporary in nature and relatively short term, and many of the tasks involved in drilling operations are specialist, some jobs will be created in areas such as construction, catering, security and support services.

There will also be expenditure in local goods and services including hiring local venues, hotel rooms, bars, restaurants and catering outlets.