Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Fracking definition

What does Fracking mean? Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a well stimulation technique to extract shale gas or tight oil by injecting water, sand and chemical additives at high pressure to create fractures in deep rock. In legal practice it engages petroleum licensing, planning permission and environmental permitting. In England, 'associated hydraulic fracturing' is defined in the Petroleum Act 1998 (as amended by the Infrastructure Act 2015) by reference to fluid volumes, which triggers statutory safeguards on depth, protected groundwater areas and methane monitoring. Typical instructions include: securing petroleum licences (England: North Sea Transition Authority), planning consent from the mineral planning authority, environmental permits (groundwater, mining...

Fracking planning regime in England: permissions, EIA screening, decision-making, appeals, policy (WMS, NPPF, EN‑1) and permitted development rights under the continuing moratorium

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Practice notes

Practice Note

This Practice Note offers a concise outline of the planning framework for hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking, in England. Although the approach is broadly comparable in both Scotland and, in particular, Wales, notable distinctions exist following recent constitutional reforms within the UK. Moreover, the devolved governments have introduced an effective policy prohibition on fracking in their territories. This Practice Note does not attempt to examine those divergences herein. Through a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) in November 2019, the government formally stated that, having considered scientific evidence, it would presume against granting any additional hydraulic fracturing consents. Activity has not been permitted to advance in England in light of scientific analysis released by the Oil and Gas authority (OGA) on 2 November 2019 thereafter. In April 2022, as part of the British energy security strategy 2022, the government confirmed it had asked the British Geological Society to undertake an independent technical review of shale gas, to assess any subsequent scientific developments and updates on seismicity since the WMS. The strategy underscores that the ‘pause’ on fracking continues unless fresh evidence is produced. Notice confirming the official end of the moratorium was issued on 22 September 2022. The...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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