Environmental permits (PPC) - Print version

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 requires certain industrial installations to obtain an environmental permit before they are allowed to operate.

The Regulations cover a diverse range of industrial processes from dry cleaners and petrol stations to metal foundries. Some processes require a permit by definition, whilst others only need a permit if they exceed certain specified thresholds such as solvent consumption or capacity.

The list of industrial activities covered by the Environmental Permitting regime is listed in Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Regulations. This list is split into three categories - Part A (1), Part A (2) and Part B.

The Environment Agency regulates Part A (1) processes which are considered to be the most polluting activities and all emissions are covered by the permit.

Local Authorities are responsible for regulating Part A (2) for multi media emissions and Part B activities for emissions to air only.

Permit conditions are set according to the 'Best Available Technique' (BAT) and the guidance note for each process.

Permit conditions set out emission limits and other abatement techniques such as maintenance and appropriate staff training.

Permit thresholds

PPC Environmental Permit Thresholds

This list is not exclusive and there are other industries that will require a permit that is not detailed here. Please contact us to confirm whether your industrial installation requires a permit.

Petrol stations

A permit is required if the throughput of petrol exceeds 500,000 litres in any 12 month period.

Dry cleaners

All dry cleaners are required to have a permit.

Waste mineral oil (garages)

Recent changes to legislation has seen the inclusion of small waste oil burners (SWOBs) under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). The IED replaced the Waste Incineration Directive and places stringent operating, monitoring and reporting requirements upon any technical unit, irrespective of its size or capacity, in which waste is incinerated or co-incinerated.

As a result of these changes, operators of simple devices, such as heaters burning waste oil in garages, will no longer be permitted to burn waste oil in such devices unless the operator obtains the necessary permit in accordance with Schedule 13A of the Environmental Permitting Regulations and meets the requirements of the IED for the operation of waste incineration and waste co-incineration plants. The cost of a Schedule 13A permit is currently £3218. 

These changes mean that it is no longer cost effective to operate a SWOB using waste oil, however, non-waste fuels such as kerosene, gas oil or fuel oil can still be used.

Solvents (SED)

• Surface cleaning: 1 tonne in 12 months (if VOC's carcinogenic otherwise 2 tonnes)
• Car vehicle respraying: 1 tonne in 12 months, 0.5 tonne if original vehicle coating.
• Coating of metal and plastic: 5 tonnes in 12 months (if organic solvents)
• Wood coating: 5 tonnes in 12 months.

Timber

• 10 000m3 in 12 months (i.e. sawmills) if wood is sawed, planed, drilled etc.
• OR 1000m3 in any other case (i.e. joinery workshops).

Di-isocyanates

5 tonnes in 12 months OR 1 tonne if toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) is used.

Minerals

Mobile crushers - no threshold, most are permitted but some smaller crushers are exempt if trivial.

Storage of bulk cement - no tonnage/volume threshold (permits required for fixed installations, if mobile cement silo then mobile plant permit required through regional office/home authority).

Surface treatment processes using acid treatment/etching

Industries with these processes may need a permit if the process is likely to release nitrogen oxides.

Foundries

Foundries will require a Part B permit if they meet the following thresholds:

• Non-ferrous: capacity less than 4 tonnes per day if lead or cadmium present, otherwise capacity less than 20 tonnes per day (If more than this will be A1/A2).
• Ferrous: if plant production capacity less than 2.5 tonnes per hour (but depends on holding capacities of furnaces) (otherwise will be A1/A2).

Printing

• Heatset web offset printing: 15 tonnes
• Publications rotagrave: 25 tonnes
• Flexography, rotary screen, laminating, varnishing, other coating: 5-12 tonnes

Apply for an environmental permit

Apply for a part A2 environmental permit [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/environmental-permitting/coventry/apply-1] or a part b environmental permit [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/environmental-permitting/coventry/apply-2] online.

If you wish to apply by post for a new environmental permit  please download the application forms [/downloads/download/1000/environmental_permits_ppc_application_forms].

Charges

Applications must be accompanied by the correct fee - in addition there is an annual subsistence fee usually payable from 1 April each year which must be paid once the permit has been issued. A pro-rata fee will apply following the issue of a permit to cover the remaining months until 1 April of the next financial year.

These fees are set by the Environment Agency [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-permitting-charges-guidance] and reviewed annually.

The application is dependant on the type of process, and the type of application. Annual subsistence fees also vary depending on process type and the risk rating given by the Council during programmed inspection of the process. For more advice contact Environmental Protection.

Annual charge

Annual subsistence charge can be made online [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/environmental-permitting/coventry/renew-1].

Supplementary information

• Application form
• Other required documents are specified in the application form.
• You will also be required to submit a map showing the installation boundary and the general location of the installation

Application process

Environmental Protection will make site visits to assess the installation and assist in drafting permit conditions. They will also guide the operator through the application process.

Are there any spot checks made during the licence lifetime?

Once the permit is granted the regulator will make periodic inspections to check compliance with permit conditions. The Council regulates the frequency of these inspections, according to the risk rating score that is determined by the level of compliance noted during the inspection. The risk rating score also determines the annual subscription fee.

Does tacit consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If however you have not been notified of the decision within the relevant period the application can be deemed as being refused for which there is a right of appeal.

Right of appeal

An applicant has a right of appeal against refusal or deemed refusal to grant an environmental permit.  There is also a right of appeal to the Secretary of State against permit conditions and refusal to grant a variation, transfer or surrender application. Such appeals must be made to the Planning Inspectorate within six months from the date of decision.

There is also a right of appeal against a regulator initiated variation, suspension, or enforcement notice, or where the regulator has deemed that the application has been withdrawn. Such appeals must be made to the Planning Inspectorate within two months of the date of the notice.

Appeals in relation to revocation notices must be made to the Planning Inspectorate before the date on which the revocation takes effect.

For further information on appeals to the Secretary of State please contact:

The Planning Inspectorate
Environment Team, Major and Specialist Casework
Room 4/04 Kite Wing
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6PN

Telephone: 0117 372 8726
Fax: 0117 372 8139

Length of licence

The permit lasts for an indefinite period, however the regulator is required to undertake a periodic review of the permit every four to six years to take account of changes to legislation and / or guidance.

In addition the regulator can revoke the permit for non-payment of the subsistence fees or if the regulator fails to adhere to the conditions set out in the permit.

Change of circumstances

The regulator will need to be notified of any changes to the process or if there is a change of operator. Please contact Environmental Protection in the first instance for advice.

Further information

Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/1154/contents/made]

Environment Agency enquiries

National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY

E-mail: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk [mailto:enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk]
Telephone: 08708 506 506

Public registers

The Council is required to maintain a public register containing information on all the installations they are responsible for. You can view the public register online [/directory/11/ippc_public_register].