THE UK government is intervening in shale gas planning applications that have not been granted a decision by local councils within a 16-week timeframe. The 16-week timeframe already applies, but is not always adhered to. The new plans include identifying councils which repeatedly fail to meet the deadline for oil and gas planning applications. Such decisions could then be taken away from these councils and passed to the secretary of state for communities and local government. While this power already exists, it is now more likely to be used.
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