A spokesman for the equalization department said: “As with all planning cases, these decisions were taken in accordance with the development plan for each area, taking into account any other relevant considerations.
He insisted that Stuart Andrew, the junior minister, had made the decision on behalf of the secretary of state. Mr Gove has simply given his legal powers to the planning bloc, he said.
This is followed by criticism of Mr. Gove this week from Jeremy Hunt, who is a rival to Boris Johnson’s shaky leadership. The government has approved an oil project in Mr Hunt’s constituency in Surrey, which the former health minister said was “bitterly disappointing and wrong from both an economic and environmental point of view”.
The industry body representing fracking companies complained of an alleged lack of consistency.
Charles McAllister, director of policy at UK Onshore Oil and Gas, said: “There is undeniable inconsistency in this decision-making process.
“If all the decisions were the same, it would be clearer what the government thinks. All this adds uncertainty.
“In the project that was approved, great weight was given to the benefits of natural gas production in the United Kingdom. But the same weight was not given to the other two sites, and it is not at all clear why. “
Ineos has six weeks to appeal the decisions to the Supreme Court. The company will also need to lift the government’s moratorium on fracking before projects can continue.
Sir Jim had previously complained that the government gave priority to the views of the “ignorant minority” in its fracking policy.
In an apparent attack on climate activist Lady Vivienne Westwood, he said: “Obviously, the influential voice of a fashion designer carries more weight than any number of scientific experts.”
Boris Johnson has come under pressure to lift the fracking ban from Brexit Minister Lord Frost this week.
In the Telegraph, Lord Frost said: “Start fracking, make it clear that North Sea gas is essential for the future, and deduct VAT from energy bills.”
But climate activists have warned that fracking will not reduce energy prices and upset communities in areas near fracking wells.
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