Homeowners with properties for sale in rural areas will be welcoming news that an outright ban on fracking in national parks is to be introduced.

Ministers made a policy U-turn to ensure the Government did not suffer a defeat over the controversial method of extracting gas and oil from shale rock.

Previous safeguards enabled firms to drill for gas in beauty spots in exceptional circumstances but the Government has now backtracked and agreed a series of concessions to head off a rebellion among Tory and Lib Dem MPs.

Areas of natural beauty

The move means fracking will be banned in the nation’s national parks, areas of natural beauty and sites of special interest but enabled the Government to defeat a bid to introduce a temporary ban on all fracking.

The U-turn will be welcomed by environmental campaigners as well as homeowners who fear fracking will have a damaging impact on residential property prices.

The Government is keen to follow the path taken by the US, where the use of shale gas has helped reduce energy prices.

But after Conservative MP Caroline Spelman – a former environment secretary – and Liberal Democrat member Norman Baker, the former Home Office minister, indicated they may lead a rebellion on fracking, ministers agreed to adopt safeguards that had been proposed by Labour.

Alexander Creed, head of resources and energy at Strutt & Parker said: “This change of policy illustrates the difficult choices to be dealt with between keeping the cost of energy down and protecting the environment and landscape of our crowded island”

Limits placed on drilling depths

Energy minister Amber Rudd told MPs the Government would now introduce an outright ban on fracking in national parks and beauty spots as well as other safeguards to limit drilling depths and ensure environmental impact assessments are carried out.  

But while the move will be welcomed in some quarters, it will come as a blow to Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne.

They have both been enthusiastic backers of shale gas, with Mr Cameron saying exploiting it will boost the UK’s energy security and help push down prices.

He says properly exploiting shale gas reserves has helped trigger competitiveness and economic growth in the US and says Britain should be following that lead.

And he adds that financial incentives attached to fracking would benefit local communities with councils bringing in more revenue from business rates.