We must, by law, regulate certain types of factory and other activities such as dry cleaners. This is to reduce any pollution they may cause and, in particular, to help improve air quality.
Businesses which operate these premises must have a permit. We decide whether or not to give a permit to an operator. The permit states the ways in which pollution is to be minimised.
In the law, the premises are known as 'installations'. Some are called 'Part B' and local authorities can only deal with air pollution from them. Additional sorts of pollution e.g noise and vibration, waste, water pollution are controlled at 'Part A2' installations. 'Part A1' installations are usually larger or more complex industries and are regulated by the Environment Agency.
You can view the detailed public register of permitted installations:
You can view the public register for the Environment Agency.
Permit application forms
To apply for a Part B or Part A2 permit, please download and complete the relevant application form:
- Part A2 Permit application form (Word Document)
- Part B Permit application form (Word Document)
- Part B Transfer form (Word Document)
- Part B Surrender form (Word Document)
- Part B Service station permit application (Word Document)
- Part B Respraying of road vehicles application (Word Document)
- Part B Dry cleaners application (Word Document)
- Download the Dry Cleaners Guidance (PDF)
- Download the Dry Cleaners Monitoring Spreadsheet (CSV)
Legislation
The control of industrial emission is mainly achieved through the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. The new regulations are made under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999.
The Part B system is known as Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC). The A2 system is Local Authority Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (LA-IPPC).
The regulations also implement some European Community Directives.
Which installations are regulated?
Regulations state exactly which installations need a permit. Please contact us to confirm whether you need a permit or not. It is a legal offence to operate a permitted installation without a permit.
If your installation comes under one of the following categories, you may require a permit.
Animal and vegetable processing
Combustion and incineration
Minerals
Metals
Organic chemicals
Petroleum and powder coating
Solvents
Waste exemptions
A waste exemption is a very specific type of low-risk waste handling operation that does not require a permit. Regulations changing waste exemptions were introduced on 6th April 2010. They affect the types of waste operation that are exempt and the rules which control them.
Registration of exemptions with us is free and lasts for three years. To continue operating for longer than this, you will need to renew your registration.
There are four categories of exemptions:
- Use;
- Treatment;
- Disposal;
- Storage.
To register please download, complete and return the form below:
Exempt waste operations
Access the register of exempt waste operations by downloading the PDF below:
Fees and charges
Under the 'polluter pays' principle the operators of industrial plant are levied a fee for their permits to operate. The scale of charges is set annually by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
We risk assesses all permitted installations on an annual basis. High risk installations pay more for their permits than medium or low risk installations. This approach allows the fees to reflect more accurately the regulatory effort and also provides a financial incentive to operate the installation to the highest possible standards.