Bid to keep oil site despite decommission plan

A farm is seeking permission to keep a former oil well site on its land, despite previous plans for it to undergo restoration work.

The plans by developer Egdon Resources to drill on the site in Biscathorpe, near Louth, were scrapped after more than a decade of campaigning by pressure group SOS Biscathorpe.

However, Egdon has now submitted a planning application on behalf of F Wallis & Sons to retain the site, which would allow the farmer to "utilise the site for agricultural use, which is in keeping with the location".

Amanda Suddaby, of SOS Biscathorpe, said: "A promise was made that it was a temporary development. The drilling plans have gone and now the site needs to go."

The planning application, submitted to Lincolnshire County Council, proposes retaining the former well site compound, hardstanding, earth bunds, fencing, security gates, access track and French drain "for the purposes of agriculture".

It is currently out for consultation, with officers at the council having "agreed in principle" to retain the well site, as stated in the supporting statement of the application.

However, work had been due to start in April to decommission the well, including plugging it with cement, removing the upper concrete rings of the well cellar and restoring the surface.

In 2023, planning inspector Paul Thompson said oil drilling in Biscathorpe was "in the public interest" but imposed a number of conditions, including that the site be returned to its previous use as agricultural land or wildlife habitat.

Suddaby said: "We feel extremely let down. This planning application was only ever permitted on a temporary basis.

"It was always a condition that the land would be returned to its original state as agricultural land."

Suddaby added that retaining the infrastructure would mean there "remains a risk" of "future exploitation, should circumstances change".

"We hope the scar on the landscape will be removed and we can all go back to enjoying our lives and the wonderful scenery around us," she said.

Mark Abbot, CEO of Egdon Resources, said: "The intent of the application is for the farmer to utilise the site for agricultural use, which is in keeping with the location.

"By looking to reuse the site and the access in this way, it should enhance the rural economy whilst minimising further impact on local communities by removing the need for additional HGV movements required for the removal of materials.

"If the landowner's application is unsuccessful, the land will be restored to its former agricultural use."

A spokesperson for the council said the application would start "the consultation and publicity process".

They said: "Once that process is complete, we will assess the merits of the case to determine whether it is acceptable to deviate from the original restoration requirement.

"What the applicant puts in their statement is outside our control, and simply put, we do not make judgements before the proper process has been followed and we have the relevant information to make an informed decision."

The application for an oil well was initially refused by the council in 2021, but the developer successfully appealed the decision at the High Court.

In 2024, an objection by SOS Biscathorpe led to a Supreme Court judgement, which quashed the approval to drill and triggered a planning appeal hearing, which was due to be heard in April.

But the plans were abandoned in December 2025, with the company behind the scheme, Union Jack Oil, saying it could "no longer justify its continued investment".

SOS Biscathorpe said the deadline for comments to object to the application and call for the site to be restored is 30 June.

Landowner F Wallis & Sons have been approached for comment.

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