Contents of permits

The application must be from the operator of the regulated facility, or their agent.

Apply for a permit

If further information is required, you will be notified by the regulator. You must provide this information or we will consider your application withdrawn.

For waste operations, no licence will be granted unless any required planning permission had first been granted.

The permit, and the conditions attached to it, contain the "whos, whats, wheres and hows" of the operation. All permits have conditions that specify:

  • the company responsible for the process
  • the address it is operated at (with a plan to confirm location)
  • a description of what the process is
  • capacities of equipment or maximum outputs of plant
  • details of plant used to control emissions
  • limits on emissions
  • requirements for monitoring equipment, or annual testing
  • reporting periods for testing or monitoring
  • actions in the event of plant failure

The permit may also have conditions specific to each type of process, for example:

  • a requirement to produce an annual servicing programme
  • signage to be displayed on plant
  • daily visual or odour monitoring
  • staff training and certification

Please note that these lists are not exhaustive, and each process has a permit tailor-made to fit. Permits are written with reference to the appropriate process guidance note (PGN), which can be obtained from the Defra website. Each PGN contains details of the best available techniques (BAT) to avoid pollution, and was developed by liason between Defra, local government and operators and trade organisations involved with the processes.