COUNCILLORS are being recommended to defer a decision on plans for fracking at Kirby Misperton tonight.

Ryedale District Council's (RDC) planning committee was due to have its say on Third Energy's bid to frack at the KM8 site on Alma Farm.

However, head of planning Gary Housden said new information had been submitted last Wednesday including 11 additional documents.

"In view of the quantity of new information it was considered not possible to respond to members bearing in mind the original report is over 1,000 pages," he added.

"We are therefore recommending it is deferred to the next planning meeting in December."

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) is the planning authority for the application, but RDC is a key consultee.

Mr Housden's report to the committee said that the plan should not be approved in its current state.

It stated "inadequate information has been submitted for the Local Planning Authority to be able to properly assess the full impacts of the proposal on both designated and non-designated heritage assets.

"The proposal is therefore, contrary to the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) and the adopted development plan."

Tonight's vote is the first since RDC agreed a five-year moratorium on fracking.

The planning committee was not bound by that decision, but asked to take it into consideration.

Mr Housden added: "It is recommended that no final decision can be made in respect of the application unless and until the further information requested by NYCC... had been submitted by the applicant.

"The submission of any additional information... is required to be the subject of further consultation with Ryedale District Council as a statutory consultee."

Third Energy's plan has five stages - pre-stimulation workover, hydraulic fracture, production test, production and stimulation/well test and site restoration.