Industrial pollution control - environmental permit

To apply for a permit or pay an annual subsistence charge use the links in the apply online section below. To view the public register of environmental permits please contact us.

Licence summary	You must have an environmental permit if you operate a regulated facility in England or Wales. A regulated facility includes: installations or mobile plants carrying out listed activities waste operations waste mobile plant mining waste operations Listed activities include: energy - burning fuel, gasification, liquification and refining activities metals - manufacturing and processing metals minerals - manufacturing lime, cement, ceramics or glass chemicals - manufacturing chemicals, pharmaceuticals or explosives, storing chemicals in bulk waste - incinerating waste, operating landfills, recovering waste solvents - using solvents for printing or painting other - manufacturing timber products, coating, printing, manufacturing new tyres, intensive pig and poultry farming Listed activities are divided into three categories: Part A(1), Part A(2) and Part B. Part A permits control activities with a range of environmental impacts, including: emissions to air, land and water energy efficiency waste reduction and minimisation noise accident prevention Part B permits control activities which cause emissions to air. The permit your business requires depends on the specific processes involved and resulting emissions. Permits are available from the Environment Agency or your local authority (the regulator) depending upon the category your business falls within: Part A(1) installations or mobile plants are regulated by the Environment Agency Part A(2) and Part B installations or mobile plants are regulated by the local authority, except waste operations carried out at Part B installations which are regulated by the Environment Agency waste operations or waste mobile plant carried on other than at an installation, or by Part A or Part B mobile plants, are regulated by the Environment Agency mining waste operations are regulated by the Environment Agency
Eligibility Criteria	Applications must be made on the form provided by the regulator, or online and must include specified information which will vary depending on the operation. A fee may be payable. If further information is required the applicant will be notified by the regulator and they must provide this information or the application will be deemed to be withdrawn. The application must be from the operator of the regulated facility. For waste operations no licence will be granted unless any required planning permission had first been granted.
Regulation Summary	A summary of the regulations relating to an environmental permit
Application Evaluation Process	The regulator will pay regard to the protection of the environment taken as a whole by, in particular, preventing or, where that is not practicable, reducing emissions into the air, water and land. The regulator may inform the public of the application and must consider any representations. The application must be from the operator of the regulated facility and the regulator must be satisfied that they must operate the facility in accordance with the environmental permit.
Will Tacit Consent Apply?	No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. Once we have received your application we will confirm within 10 working days as to whether or not the application can be accepted. Once your application has been accepted it can take up to 5 months to process. If you have not heard from us within this time please contact us. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details in the box to the right.
Apply online	Apply for an A2 Environmental Permit Apply for a B Environmental Permit Annual subsistence charge Tell us about a change to your existing Environmental Permit
Failed Application Redress	Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance, see the contact details box on the right of the page. An applicant who is refused an environmental permit may appeal to the Secretary of State. Appeals must be lodged no later than six months from the date of the decision.
Licence Holder Redress	Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance, see the contact details box on the right of the page. If an application to vary, transfer or surrender an environmental permit has been refused or if the applicant objects to conditions imposed on the environmental permit they may appeal to the appropriate authority. Appeals must be lodged in relation to a regulator initiated variation, a suspension notice or an enforcement notice, not later than two months from the date of the variation or notice and in any other case not later than six months from the date of the decision.
Consumer Complaint	We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form of a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Other Redress	Compensation maybe payable in relation to conditions affecting certain interests in land.
Trade Associations	Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA) Environmental Industries Commission (EIC)  Environmental Services Associations (ESA)