Question: What is an environmental permit?
Answer: An environmental permit is a legal authorisation required under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 for activities that could pollute the air, water or land. Permits are issued by the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales or the local authority depending on the type and scale of the activity.
Activities requiring a permit include industrial installations, waste operations, medium combustion plant and generators, water discharges, groundwater activities and certain mining and radioactive substances activities. Operating a regulated activity without the correct permit is a criminal offence.
Question: Which activities need an environmental permit?
Answer: Common activities requiring a permit include:
- Part A(1), A(2) and Part B industrial installations
- Waste transfer, treatment, recycling and storage
- Anaerobic digestion and composting
- Medium combustion plant (1 to 50 MWth) and specified generators
- Standby generators used for balancing services
- Discharges of trade effluent or surface water to rivers or groundwater
- Crematoria, dry cleaners and vehicle refinishers (local authority permits)
Some low-risk activities can be registered as exemptions rather than requiring a full permit.
Question: What types of environmental permit are there?
Answer: There are two main types. Standard rules permits apply to common, lower-risk activities and have fixed conditions that cannot be varied. Bespoke permits are tailored to activities that fall outside standard rules or pose a higher risk, and require a detailed site-specific application including risk assessments and management plans.
The choice of permit affects the application cost, timescale and ongoing compliance requirements, so early advice can save significant time and money.
Question: What does an environmental permit application involve?
Answer: A typical bespoke application includes:
- Completion of the relevant application forms
- Site plans and process descriptions
- Environmental risk assessment (H1 assessment)
- Air quality dispersion modelling and stack height assessment
- Noise impact assessment
- Odour or bioaerosol risk assessment where relevant
- Environmental Management System summary
- Site condition report
- Fire prevention plan for waste sites
- Operator competence evidence
The Environment Agency will consult on the application and may request further information before determination.
Question: How long does it take to obtain an environmental permit?
Answer: The Environment Agency aims to determine standard rules permits within around three months and bespoke permits within four months, although complex applications or those requiring additional information can take considerably longer. Applications submitted without complete supporting assessments are frequently delayed or returned.
Because construction and operation cannot lawfully begin until the permit is issued, permit applications should be programmed alongside planning applications rather than left until after consent is obtained.
Question: What is the Medium Combustion Plant Directive?
Answer: The Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD), implemented through the Environmental Permitting Regulations, requires combustion plant with a thermal input between 1 MW and 50 MW, including boilers, engines and generators, to be permitted and to meet emission limit values for nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and dust. Specified generators, including standby generators operating for balancing services, are also regulated.
Many developments with energy centres, CHP or large standby generators now require a permit, and the associated air quality assessment can affect plant selection and stack design.
Question: What happens after a permit is granted?
Answer: Operators must comply with the permit conditions, which typically include emissions monitoring, record keeping, reporting, maintenance of an environmental management system and payment of annual subsistence fees. The regulator carries out compliance inspections and may take enforcement action for breaches.
Permits may need to be varied if the operation changes, transferred if the site changes hands, or surrendered when the activity ceases.
Question: Why choose Syntegra Group for environmental permit applications?
Answer: Syntegra Group supports operators and developers through the full environmental permitting process, from determining whether a permit is needed and selecting the most appropriate permit type, to preparing the technical assessments and managing the application with the Environment Agency or local authority. Our in-house air quality, noise, odour and building services expertise means the supporting assessments are prepared by one coordinated team.
We provide clear advice on permit conditions and ongoing compliance obligations, helping clients achieve lawful operation without unnecessary delay or cost.
