Fracking to be banned in national parks, Government concedes

Fracking will be banned in national parks and new red tape imposed on shale gas companies, the Government has announced, in a major concession to Labour and opponents of the industry.

Amid a mounting political backlash over the Government's staunch support for fracking, ministers on Monday announced a series of u-turns that will significantly restrict where the controversial drilling technique can take place.

Thousands of square miles of the UK including national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and areas near to groundwater sources will now have a total ban on fracking.

New regulations proposed by Labour will be brought in to tighten up environmental protections on fracking, making it harder for companies to explore for shale gas.

Backbench proposals for an outright ban on fracking were defeated by MPs but the concessions by the Government are likely to further slow the development of the nascent industry, despite the Prime Minister's insistence the Government is going "all out for shale".

Not a single well has yet been fracked since a ban on the practice was lifted in 2012.

Ministers issued guidance last year that fracking could be allowed in national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty only in "exceptional circumstances". But on Monday the Government said it would now impose an "outright ban" in these areas. Labour, the Environmental Audit Committee and green groups had all been calling for such a ban.

Ministers also announced they were accepting a series of changes proposed by Labour, including forcing companies to carry out monitoring of the environment at a fracking site for 12 months before starting work, rather than the current voluntary three months - a move which could further delay drilling.

The Labour proposals also include a ban on fracking "within the boundary of a groundwater source protection zone". There are different definitions of groundwater protection zones but Labour said its proposal referred to the widest definition, which covers as much as 15 per cent of England, potentially ruling out significant further areas of the country.

However Government sources said the ban would only apply to the narrowest definition, covering areas where fracking was effectively already banned under existing rules.

Labour's changes will also ensure that residents in affected areas receive individual notifications of fracking beneath their land - although the Infrastructure Bill removes their right to block the process taking place.

Ministers had previously removed the notification requirement, describing it as "unnecessarily excessive".

Earlier on Monday David Cameron insisted he remained committed to shale gas, saying: "I want to see unconventional gas properly exploited in our country.”

Caroline Flint MP, Labour’s shadow energy secretary, said: "This is a huge u-turn by the Government and big victory for the protection of Britain’s environment.

"Labour has always said that shale gas extraction cannot go ahead unless there is a system of robust regulation and comprehensive inspection, but David Cameron has repeatedly ignored people’s genuine and legitimate environmental concerns over shale gas."

A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change played down the significance of the changes, insisting that the majority of Labour's proposals "are already Government policy, carried out voluntarily by industry or as part of Environment Agency or HSE every day working practice".

"We have agreed to accept this amendment, to provide clear reassurance in law, and to give this nascent industry has the best possible chance of success," they said.

Ken Cronin, head of shale gas body UKOOG, said: "Most of the amendments agreed are in line with best practice in the industry or codify the directions of regulators, which the industry would naturally comply with."