AIM-listed UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) has announced that the High Court has ruled that planning consent for the Company's conventional gas and hydrogen feedstock project in Surrey is entirely lawful. Loxley planning consent therefore remains in full force and the Company's plans to implement the project remain unchanged.
Following a High Court hearing on June 8th, 2023, both points of challenge to the Secretary of State's June 2022 grant of planning consent, brought by Protect Dunsfold and Waverley Borough Council, were dismissed by the judge, the Honourable Mrs Justice Steyn DBE. In October 2022, Mrs Justice Lang dismissed challenges by the same claimants and ordered them to pay costs.
UKOG has consistently stated that Loxley can play its part in the government's Hydrogen and British Energy Security Strategies via the supply of its gas as feedstock for reformation into clean burning hydrogen. Loxley's hydrogen potential forms part of the Company's move into the hydrogen space along with its Dorset hydrogen storage and Hydrogen Battery project.
Stephen Sanderson, UKOG Chief Executive, commented:
'We are pleased that Mrs Justice Steyn has dismissed the legal challenge to our Loxley project and has confirmed that its planning consent is entirely lawful, as the Company and its counsel has maintained. We believe that a successful project will be beneficial to local and national level energy and economic interests and is fully in keeping with the government's Hydrogen and Energy Security strategies.'
Source: UKOG
