What happened?
The UK Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Sarah Finch and the Weald Action Group in their fight against oil drilling plans in Surrey.
The group had challenged Surrey county council’s decision to grant permission for an oil well at Horse Hill, near Gatwick Airport. They argued that the planning committee that granted permission for the drilling was wrong to only account for emissions arising from the drill site itself. They should also have considered the emissions created when the oil is burned after being sold.
Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth also supported Finch’s case as ‘intervenors’.
What does it mean?
This judgement means the oil well at Horse Hill no longer has permission to go ahead. But the impact of this case doesn’t end in Surrey.
This decision should mean that any new fossil fuel projects in the UK must consider all emissions, including those from burning the fuel, not just from getting it out of the ground. This could change how future oil and gas projects are approved across the UK.
Greenpeace UK has existing legal challenges against the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields which have been put on hold pending the outcome of this case. This judgement sets a precedent that will hugely increase our chances of victory against Rosebank and Jackdaw.