The British company’s new headquarters will position its management and operational team within its shale gas exploration licence area in Lancashire – although no firm location has yet been identified.

Cuadrilla currently has its head office in Lichfield, Staffordshire, where the company was founded in 2007 by a small group of British geologists who had met and worked together at Birmingham University.

The firm had used rooms belonging to the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce as a temporary base in the county.

Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla said: “Relocating our headquarters to the North West is not only a visible symbol of our continued commitment to exploration for shale gas in Lancashire but will enable an even greater focus in growing our supplier base and employees from the area.

“While we are currently at the start of an appeals process regarding our Lancashire planning applications we are confident that shale gas exploration will bring many benefits to the region that includes our own direct investment in local people and suppliers for our new head office.”