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Environmental permits

Under The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 20161 permits are needed to carry out a wide range of specified activities lawfully. These activities include anything from emissions from nuclear power stations and sewage treatment plant, to scrap metal yards, and other activities that might pollute the air, water or land.

Depending on the activity, applicants must apply either to the Environment Agency or the relevant local authority, this can be done before or after receiving planning permission. The applicant should check whether this should be completed in a particular order for their proposal. The regulator will normally take up to 13 weeks to determine the application, and will charge for both determining the application and for ongoing regulation of the permit. Charges vary according to the nature of the activity.

View details of the Government's policies on environmental quality2

Check if you need an environmental permit on Gov.uk3

View guidance on waste exemptions4

If you are unsure of whether you need a permit or have any general enquiries, then you should contact the Environment Agency at enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk5.

  1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/1154/introduction/made
  2. https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/environmental-quality
  3. https://www.gov.uk/environmental-permit-check-if-you-need-one
  4. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/waste-exemptions-disposing-of-waste
  5. mailto:enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). All content © 2024 Planning Portal.

The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). All content © 2024 Planning Portal.