The U.K. governmentÌýreleased new measures Thursday, to help significantly cut waiting periods for shale projects while allowing for intervention in applicationsÌýif necessary.
"Shale gas planning applications will be fast-tracked through a new, dedicated planning process,� the government announced.
Amber Rudd, the energy and climate change secretaryÌýandÌýGreg Clark, the communities secretary,Ìýrevealed plans ensuringÌýthat local people, which will potentially be affected by a project in their area, will be given greater access to detailed information on a projectÌýwhile also "benefitingÌýfrom a swift process for developing safe and suitable new sites."
Communities with shale gas developments should share in the financial returns generated, the government said.
With this in mind, the government announced their intention to present proposals later in the year on the design of a new sovereign wealth fund.
“To ensure we get this industry up and running we can’t have a planning system that sees applications dragged out for months, or even years on end,"ÌýRudd said.
The measures also give the communities secretary the potential to step-in ifÌýcouncils that repeatedly fail to determine oil and gas applications within the 16-weekÌýtimeframe,ÌýareÌýidentified.
“No one benefits from uncertainty caused by delays in planning decisions,"ÌýClark said and added, "by fast-tracking any appropriate applications, today’s changes will tackle potential hold ups in the system.â€�
By Zeynep Beyza Karabay
Anadolu Agency
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