It has asked for permission to build a temporary wellsite, Weaverthorpe, and drill a test borehole to explore for natural gas. The proposed site is land north of Butt Lane at Foxholes in Driffield, East Yorkshire.

Before any drilling or testing can start, the company must have an environmental permit to operate. The Environment Agency is now seeking views from the local community and interested groups on the permit application.

The consultation runs until 14 January 2026. The Environment Agency will host a public drop-in session on 2 December 2025 from 4pm until 7pm at Foxholes Community Hall.

Issued by the Environment Agency, environmental permits detail the conditions that an operator is required to meet to ensure its activities minimise the risk of harm to people and the environment.

The company also needs planning permission from the local authority before work can begin.

Kathryn Richardson, area environment manager at the Environment Agency, said: “We will carry out a detailed and rigorous assessment of the permit application. Our regulatory controls for the onshore oil and gas industry are in place to protect people and the environment.

“I’d encourage people to read the consultation documents and attend the drop-in. We welcome comments from the public and interested groups on local environmental factors that people feel are important.”

The Environment Agency may only refuse a permit application if it does not meet one or more of the legal requirements under environmental legislation – including if it will have an unacceptable impact on the environment or harm human health.

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