The Court of Appeal has dismissed challenges from an anti-fracking group in Lancashire.
In mid-2015, an application to begin shale gas exploration was rejected due to noise and visual impact grounds. That decision was overturned by then-communities secretary, Sajid Javid, in late 2016.
That decision caused the anti-fracking group and a second challenger to launch an appeal to have Mr Javid's decision reversed, with the challengers stating that Mr Javid had misinterpreted planning and environmental legislation when he made his decision.
The Court of Appeal explained that their role was not to decide if that decision was "right" but whether the secretary "had committed an error of law" and on that basis, the Court of Appeal upheld Mr Javid's decision.
