Fracking 'could hit house prices, poison water supplies, and hurt tourism' in rural England

Fracking for shale gas risks plummeting house prices, increasing traffic and noise, damaging the landscape and putting off tourists, according to a government report released in full for the first time.

The document had been released by Defra, the environment department, last year - but heavily redacted.

Now, the Information Commissioner has forced officials to release the full version, revealing some of the blacked-out sections had covered up some of the potential negative impacts of the controversial technique.

It comes after Lancashire county councillors rejected plans by energy firm Cuadrilla to begin exploratory drilling and fracking - which is the process of extracting gas by hydraulic fracturing - in the region.

Read: Lancashire County Councillors reject fracking plans

Keith Taylor, the Green MEP for South East England who has campaigned for the fracking report to be released in full, accused the government of "trying to hide" evidence of how damaging the process could be.

Among the now-uncovered sections is a warning that house prices could drop by up to seven per cent near fracking sites, while insurance prices could soar due to the potential for explosions.

And while the report highlights estimates that investment in shale gas could bring in £3.7 billion a year and support 74,000 jobs, a previously-redacted section sounds a note of warning, saying it was unclear how sustainable this would be.

Local communities may not even benefit from the jobs created, it adds, due to the specific skillset that would be needed.

It goes on to say:

The report addresses concerns raised by opponents that fracking may cause earthquakes, can pollute water supplies, and could harm the environment by increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

The entire section dealing with environmental concerns had previously been redacted.

It states that while producing shale gas within the UK could lower overall emissions by replacing imports, this could be cancelled out if displaced gas is used elsewhere.

What's more, it adds, fracking has the potential to contaminate surface water through leaks from on-site storage ponds, surface runoff, spills, or flooding.

Referring to fracking sites already in operation in the US, the report states that leakage of waste fluids from the process has caused environmental damage, as well as "deafening noise", light pollution and noxious gases impacting nearby residents.

UK ministers have publicly supported shale gas exploration, hoping to echo the boost to jobs and the economy seen in the US, as well as reducing energy prices and becoming less reliant on foreign imports.

A Defra spokesman today said the department "respected" the order from the Information Commissioner to release the full report, but warned that it contained "early, often vague assumptions" not supported by any evidence.

Anti-fracking campaigers welcomed the release of the report, accusing the government of deliberately trying to cover up negative evidence which could put a spanner in the works for developers hoping to cash in.

Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Tony Bosworth urged the government to "follow the lead" of Scotland and Wales and "put fracking on hold".

Greenpeace UK energy and climate campaigner Daisy Sands added: