You may require an environmental permit under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act, 1999 if you operate an industrial process in one of the following categories:
- burning fuel, gasification, liquefaction and refining activities
- manufacturing and processing metals
- manufacturing lime, cement, ceramics or glass
- manufacturing chemicals, pharmaceuticals, explosives or storing chemicals in bulk
- incinerating waste, operating landfills, recovering waste
- using solvents
- manufacturing paper, pulp and board
- treating timber products
- coating
- treating textiles
- printing
- manufacturing new tyres
- intensive pig and poultry farming
Our Public Protection Unit deal with the administration of Industrial emissions and environmental permits.
- Purpose of environmental permits
- Site permits
- Apply for an environmental permit
- Public register of environmental permit holders
- Environmental permit applications under consideration
Purpose of environmental permits
Environmental permits are issued to:
- prevent local pollution problems, such as dust and odour nuisance
- reduce the release of air pollutants that may contribute to local air quality problems and wider issues, such as climate change
- provide controls or conditions over the way an industrial process is operated and managed
- place limits on quantities of pollutants that may be emitted
Site permits
Sites requiring a permit are regularly inspected by our officers. Sites must comply with conditions based on guidance issued by DEFRA.
Failure to comply can result in formal enforcement action being taken, with fines up to £50,000 in the Magistrates Court or an unlimited fine in the Crown Court.
There are different types of environmental site permits.
Part A1 Permit sites
These are regulated by the Environment Agency and are required for large activities that impact air, land and water. Examples include:
- large food processors
- power stations
Contact the Environment Agency for details of fees and charges relating to Part A1 Permit sites.
Part A2 Permit sites
These are regulated by our Public Protection Unit and are required for smaller activities that impact air, land and water. Examples include:
- large glass factories
- sites that use large quantities of solvents
See details of fees relating to Part A2 Permit sites (GOV.UK).
This includes details of:
- fees and advertising costs in relation to permit applications (part 2)
- subsistence charge information (part 3)
- fees and subsistence charge refund information (part 4)
Part B Permit sites
These are regulated by our Public Protection Unit and are required for smaller activities that impact air only. Examples include;
- vehicle refinishers
- concrete batching plants
- petrol stations
- activities which use solvents
- certain combustion plants
See details of fees relating to Part B Permit sites (GOV.UK).
This includes details of:
- fees and advertising costs in relation to permit applications (part 2)
- subsistence charge information (part 3)
- fees and subsistence charge refund information (part 4)
Apply for an environmental permit
Please contact the Public Protection Unit to discuss any potential applications so we can provide the relevant application form.
Applications will be subject to an application fee and annual subsistence fee. These fees and charges are set by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Depending on the size of your operation and its environmental impact, either ourselves or the Environment Agency will be responsible for issuing and regulating your permit.
Public register of environmental permit holders
View the public register of environmental permit holders.
To view details of a specific installation on the public register, please contact the Public Protection Unit. Viewing is free of charge, but there is a charge for photocopying any information from the register.
Environmental permit applications under consideration
City of York Council has received an application from York Media Limited for an Environmental Permit to operate an installation for a heat set web offset printing process under Chapter 6, Section 6.4, Part B(a)(iv) of the Environmental Permitting Regulations.
The location of the site will be at Airfield Business Park, Brinkworth Rush, Elvington, York, YO41 4AU.
This business will be operating under a Part B site permit, as less than 200 tonnes of solvents will be used annually at the installation.
The application was duly made on 8 May 2024.
Details of the application can be found on the copy of the public register of environmental permit holders, which is held at the Hazel Court Eco-Depot, James Street, York. Contact the Public Protection Team on telephone: 01904 551567 if you require further information.