Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) plc says that the Planning Inspectorate has allowed Europa's appeal against Surrey County Council's decision not to grant permission to drill one exploratory borehole and undertake a short term test for hydrocarbons at the Holmwood prospect in the PEDL143 licence in the Weald Basin, Surrey.

Europa holds a 40% interest in PEDL 143, which contains the conventional Holmwood prospect, alongside Egdon Resources (18.4%), Altwood Petroleum (1.6%), Warwick Energy (20%) and UK Oil & Gas Investments (20% subject to completion of farm-in).

The Holmwood prospect is to be drilled as a deviated exploration well and a further planning application for the underground well path was submitted to Surrey County Council on 14 May 2014. It is understood that Surrey County Council will make a decision on this application now that the Planning Inspectorate has issued its decision on the planning appeal. Europa and its partners will wait until Surrey County Council makes its decision on the underground well path before considering next steps on this licence.

Tags: Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) plc