Environmental permitting applies to England and Wales only.
If you operate your business in Northern Ireland or Scotland, see our guidance on pollution prevention and control and waste management licensing.
Pollution prevention and control permits
Waste management licensing
What is environmental permitting?
Environmental permitting is a single, risk-based system for regulating business activities that could have an impact on the environment.
It provides a streamlined system for managing environmental permits, including:
- a single application form
- common procedures for appeals, changes and transfers
- simplified guidance.
Environmental permitting today
Environmental permitting has:
- simplified and combined some permitting regimes
- put into effect permitting requirements in some European Directives.
| Permitting regime |
Date commenced |
| Pollution prevention and control (PPC) permitting |
6 April 2008 |
| Waste management licensing (WML) |
6 April 2008 |
PPC permits and WMLs automatically became environmental permits on 6 April 2008. No new permits were issued to businesses with existing PPC permits or WMLs.
| EU Directive |
Date commenced |
| Batteries Directive |
5 May 2009 |
| Mining Waste Directive |
7 July 2009 |
Environmental permitting in the future
Environmental permitting is being extended to cover other existing permitting regimes in the future.
| Permitting regime |
Date expected |
| Waste carriers and brokers registrations |
Summer 2010 |
| Water discharge consents |
April 2010 |
| Groundwater authorisations |
April 2010 |
| Radioactive substances regulation |
April 2010 |
| Water abstraction and impoundment licences |
April 2011 |
It will also be used to put into effect new permitting requirements in future EU Directives.
See our future legislation pages for further information.
Environmental permitting extension consultation
Handling, transfer and transport of waste second consultation
In this guideline:
What is an environmental permit?
Do you need an environmental permit?
Do you need to register an exemption from environmental permitting?
How do you apply for an environmental permit?
What you must do if you hold an environmental permit
How do you change, transfer or cancel your environmental permit?
Environmental permitting further information
Environmental permitting legislation
