The application to frack its existing KM8 well, an extension of its operations in Ryedale, will now undergo a period of public consultation before planning officers make a recommendation to the planning committee.
Third Energy has said the entire project should take no more than six weeks, with each hydraulic fracture “only lasting for around five hours”.
Operations director John Dewar said he was delighted that the project had reached another milestone, despite receiving “more scrutiny because of high public interest”.
He insisted that operations will be for a shorter duration and involve less noise and traffic than many of the company’s other wells which have operated “safely and unnoticed” for the last two decades.
“We are confident we can deliver this project discreetly, safely and with minimum environmental impact, as we have done with all of our projects for the last 20 years,” he added.
Dewar urged the Council to judge Third Energy’s application based on “facts provided by leading independent consultants, rather than rumours spread on the internet”.
The fracking process is a controversial topic, with many UK projects recently being blocked by councils, despite the process being backed by Government.
In June, fracking firm Cuadrilla was refused permission to explore for shale gas its Roseacre Wood site. After much deliberation, a decision was made to reject the firm’s Preston New Road, despite receiving backing from planning officials.
Councillors said they rejected Cuadrilla’s application because of the “visual impact and unacceptable noise”.
In a statement, the company said it had completed the “most comprehensive environmental impact assessments ever carried out for operations of this kind” and earlier this month, decided to appeal the decision. However, civil servants have warned that the appeal process could take “at least 16 months”.