Union Jack Oil plc (AIM: UJO, OTCQB: UJOGF) has confirmed that the PEDL253 joint venture has decided to withdraw its planning appeal relating to the proposed sidetrack drilling and oilfield development at the Biscathorpe site.
The appeal had been due to be heard at a public inquiry in April 2026. Following the withdrawal, the joint venture will meet its regulatory obligations and relinquish the licence in due course. Union Jack holds a 45% non-operated interest in PEDL253.
The licence operator, Egdon Resources UK Limited, had originally secured planning permission in December 2023 to appraise and produce hydrocarbons at Biscathorpe. However, this consent was overturned in July 2024 after a High Court ruling linked to the Finch decision. Egdon subsequently sought a redetermination by the Planning Inspectorate via written representations and submitted additional environmental material, including an assessment of downstream greenhouse gas emissions.
During 2025, further documentation was provided at the request of the Planning Inspectorate, including updated case statements and a climate change assessment. In October, a newly appointed Planning Inspector ruled that the appeal should proceed as a four-to-six-day public inquiry rather than through written submissions.
After reviewing the project’s commercial viability, the current UK tax environment, and the ongoing legal uncertainty surrounding oil and gas developments following the Finch ruling, the joint venture concluded that continued investment in Biscathorpe could no longer be justified. This decision was reinforced by stronger statutory protections introduced in late 2024 for National Landscapes, formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
David Bramhill, Executive Chairman of Union Jack Oil, commented: “With a backdrop of a changing macro-economic environment, along with the continued regulatory uncertainty in relation to how downstream emissions will be considered, we have concluded that this is the correct decision for the Company’s wider objectives, which includes the future development of Wressle and the planned drilling programme in Oklahoma.
“A comprehensive review of all of Union Jack’s projects in the UK and USA will be issued in January 2026.”
