Europa Oil & Gas Holdings Plc (LON:EOG) told investors that the formal planning appeal process for the Wressle field development will start in the coming weeks.
Appeal documentation is now being validated. That process is expected to take between one or two weeks, and a start date will be confirmed after that.
At the same time, it is expected that a new planning application will be submitted later this month and it will contain detailed information to address specific concerns outlined in the prior council refusal.
“Wressle is just one of many conventional oil fields that have been discovered in the East Midlands, a petroleum province which has a long heritage of oil and gas production stretching over decades,” said Hugh Mackay, Europa chief executive.
“As a result, we believe the case to bring Wressle into production is strong and we are hopeful that Egdon, in its capacity as operator of the licence, will be successful with the appeal.”
An environmental permit is, meanwhile, also expected to be issued for the project this month subject to the outcome of the current consultation process on the draft permit (the window for this review closes shortly).
Operations on the field have been ongoing, with the drilling of water monitoring boreholes - a programme approved for planning permission earlier this year.
Egdon says the case for appeal is "very strong"
Mark Abbott, managing director of Wressle partner Egdon Resources Plc (LON:EDR), said: “We believe our case for the appeal is very strong and we will look to progress both the appeal and the new application through the planning system as quickly as possible.
“We believe this dual track approach will provide the best opportunity for a successful outcome with the minimum delay."
Europa has currently has a 30% stake in Wressle, partnered alongside 25% stakeholder Egdon, Celtique Energie Petroleum and Union Jack Oil PLC (LON:UJO) which own 30% and 15% respectively.
A deal previously agreed between Europa and Upland Resources will see the former sell 10% of the project to the latter, should planning permission for the development be approved.
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