SUMMARY OF STAR ENERGY'S PROPOSALS 
Click here for a 2-page printable summary 

To access the full application with Star Energy's Environmental Survey go to the Guildford Online Planning Application Search and enter case number 05/P/02357

1.      LOCATION

The proposed 1.6 hectare (4 acre) appraisal wellsite is within Blackheath Forest and is adjacent to registered Common Land and residential properties. Click here for location map

Sections of the proposed access route pass through areas of registered Common Land.

The proposed 1.24 access road passes through two non-statutory designated local sites of county wildlife importance: Albury Warren and Blackheath Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCIs).

Much of the Blackheath Common is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)  and the whole forest area and its surroundings lie within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Surrey Metropolitan Green Belt.

 

2.      CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESS ROAD

Access for HGVs across Blackheath Common will require

·        permanent alteration to the banks of Sandy Lane and removal of oak trees to widen access to 4m

·        alteration of the bridge over the Lawbrook and construction of a turning point for HGVs

·        conversion of 1.24 km of existing bridleway and forest track with flattening of the gully up through Broomfields and removal of trees to create an access road  4-6m wide requiring 3000 tonnes of crushed stone

·        construction of the access road,  wellsite & drilling rig will require 20-40 tonne HGVs to traverse Blackheath Common 8-13 times per day for 8 weeks, followed by 3-5 HGVs per day for an additional 10-12 weeks during drilling

·        if  light vehicles are included then Star Energy’s estimates there will be up to 10,800 vehicle movements across Blackheath Common during the 3 year project.

 

3.      CONSTRUCTION OF WELL-SITE & DRILLING OPERATIONS

·        removal of mature oak trees as well as existing conifer plantation & alteration of landscape topography

·        6 weeks construction of well-site & parking area for HGVs and other vehicles over 1.6 hectares

·        installation of a 38m drilling rig (3-4 days to mobilize across access route)

·        installation of a ground flare stack approximately 4 x 4 x 4m

·        installation of drilling facilities comprising a number of enclosed structures between 2-4m in height  

·        24 hour flood-lit drilling & testing for up to 13 weeks  

·        total well-site construction, testing & drilling operations lasting approximately 5 months

·      immediately adjacent to residential properties

 

4.    APPRAISAL

·        appraisal & testing of gas flow over 2years

·        flaring of all gas extracted, including nighttime flaring

·        daily vehicular access to site

 

5.     FUTURE PLANS

·        if the boreholes prove dry the site will be restored back to the existing commercial forestry.  The access track will remain to allow improved access from the east side of Blackheath Forest for logging equipment & vehicles

·        if the appraisal is successful for Star Energy then they will submit an application to produce gas commercially from the gasfield