Fracking could hurt house prices, health and environment, official report says

Defra report, published in full after freedom of information battle, admits impact on water quality and wildlife is 'uncertain', though possible benefits also listed

Fracking operations to extract shale gas in Britain could cause nearby house prices to fall by up to 7% and create a risk of environmental damage, according to a government report that has been published in full for the first time.

Entitled Shale Gas Rural Economy Impacts, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) document was released on Wednesday after a freedom of information battle.