The leading chemicals company Ineos said it is to give away £2.5 billion from its new shale gas business to homeowners and communities close to its wells.

Chairman Jim Ratcliffe, whose firm owns the huge Grangemouth plant, said the offer could be a "game changer" for the UK shale gas industry, which uses a technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Last week, the Scottish Government condemned plans to allow fracking companies to drill below people's land without their agreement.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) had said it will press ahead with proposals to simplify underground access for oil and gas developers despite the objection of 99 per cent of respondents to a consultation.

Fergus Ewing, energy minister, said decisions on oil and gas drilling in Scotland should be made by the people who live there, and powers relating to the issue should be included in the current devolution process.

Fracking involves pumping water, chemicals and sand at high pressure underground to fracture shale rock and release gas.

Ineos said those living in an area where shale gas was extracted could share £375 million over the life of the project.Home owners and land owners directly above the wells would share four per cent of the revenue - typically £250m, it said. A further two per cent will go to communities close to the wells, worth around £125m.

Mr Ratcliffe said: "This is a game changer for Britain's shale gas industry. Giving six per cent of revenues to those living above Britain's shale gas developments means the rewards will be fairly shared."