'Huge response' from conveyancers to fracking report

A new report for homebuyers which includes details of the potential impact of fracking is said to have received a "huge response" from conveyancers.

The GroundSure energy report, launched earlier this summer, covers risks to proprerty-owners from fracking, windfarms and other energy sources.

A spokesman for GroundSure said it had seen a "huge response" from conveyancers interested in taking on the product, especially in those areas which are expected to hold large shale gas reserves.

"We developed the energy report in response to clear concerns from conveyancers that there needed to be better information available on the current and potential future impact of fracking and other energy exploration or installation issues," he said.

"We have seen a huge response in terms of interest on taking the product, especially in those areas that could potentially be impacted."

The spokesman said GroundSure and search provider SearchFlow would be running a series of seminars in the autumn in "areas where fracking will become a live issue so that conveyancers are fully armed to advise their clients".

He added that it was important that people formed a "balanced view" of fracking and information was given to them about the community benefits fracking could bring, such as direct contributions to local charities, community facilities and subsidised energy.

Marshall King, chief executive of SearchFlow, said fracking could cause uncertainty and potential blight for people wanting to sell.

"A lot of the sites are in leafy areas of southern England," he said. "Balcombe is one of a string of sites across Sussex and West Kent.

"People don't really understand what the side effects of fracking are going to be, such as the risk to groundwater.

"Whether it's fracking or wind farms, or anything else which can potentially damage the value of the property, these things don't necessarily show on local authority searches."

Prime minister David Cameron said last week that UK would be "missing out big time" on cheaper energy and jobs if it ruled out fracking on environmental grounds.

He said communities which allowed fracking in their area would be given £100,000 plus 1 per cent of the revenue if drilling in their area was successful.

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