The Government is asking for views on whether non-hydraulic fracturing shale gas exploration should be given planning permission through a permitted development right, and thus not require planning consent. The Government is also asking in which circumstances this right should be applied.
The consultation suggests areas where this right should not be applied, which include World Heritage Sites, National Parks, Conservation Areas, Scheduled Monuments and Sites of Archaeological interest, but there is little more detail given on this.
The consultation closes on 25th October 2018.
More information is available here.