Estate agents operating close to potential fracking sites are warning the controversial technique is likely to wipe tens of thousands of pounds off the values of nearby properties and make homes harder to sell, according to a major survey of the industry.

Property dealers in areas already targeted by fracking companies are also reporting concerns from prospective buyers over looming shale developments, with some sales already falling through as a result.

The findings come from a survey of 60 estate agents conducted by research agency Redshift and commissioned by Greenpeace UK. The respondents are evenly distributed across three key areas where energy firms are planning to carry out fracking: West Sussex, Manchester, and Lancashire.

Two thirds (67%) of the estate agents interviewed say fracking operations could bring down house prices. A majority of them estimate the loss in value to be more than 8-11%, with two agents putting it as high as 41-70%. With the price of the average house in the UK estimated at £272,000, even just a 10% drop in value could translate into a loss of tens of thousands of pounds.

Commenting on the findings, Paula Higgins, chief executive of HomeOwners Alliance, said: “It’s worrying that homeowners who happen to live in fracking zones are being kept in the dark on how fracking will affect them. Some are already starting to bear the brunt through aborted sales and their homes being devalued.”