CIVIC leaders have agreed to extended permission for oil production at Purbeck’s Wytch Farm oilfield for another 21 years.

Perenco UK, who bought the site - the largest onshore oilfield in western Europe –in a $610 deal from BP last year, will be able to extend its operation life from 2016.

Dorset County Council granted permission this morning, subject to a number of conditions including the prevention of fracking for shale gas.

On the planning application, a Perenco spokesman said: “Perenco had submitted 39 planning applications to Dorset County Council in order to extend the lifetime of its current planning permissions, many of which were due to expire in November 2016.

“The applications did not seek to expand the sites themselves, or add new sites.

“This is about continuing our business-as-usual activities and operations.”

Wytch Farm, under Poole Harbour, produces around 20,000 barrels of oil every day, and the reserves are an estimated 43m barrels.

The county council has also approved extensions at oilfields at Wareham and Kimmeridge.