Other permissions you may require

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