Welcome to the
Vale of Glamorgan Council

Environmental Permitting

 

cooling towerThe Vale of Glamorgan Council has a statutory responsibility to regulate certain industrial activities listed in Schedule 1 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (EPR regulations).  If a company wants to carry out processes that may cause emissions to land, air or water they must apply for an Environmental Permit to do so from either the Environment Agency or the Council (depending on the category of installation). Premises carrying out such activities are referred to as ''regulated facilities''.

    

 

The Environment Agency regulates industries with the greatest potential of causing pollution to land, air or water.

 

We regulate industries with less potential to pollute the environment, this includes

  • Part A2 activities such as small chemical works; glass factory
  • Part B activities such as mineral screening, grading and crushing; dry cleaners; coating processes

 

For further information on environmental permits please click on the links below:

 

 


 

Why have Environmental Permits?

Many industrial activities have the potential to adversely affect the environment and human health and can cause pollution to all three environmental media: air, land and water. By issuing environmental permits to installations that would otherwise be prohibited allows the regulator, whether it is the Environment Agency or the Vale of Glamorgan Council to set conditions within the permit to control the pollution based on the use of the Best Available Techniques (BAT) as described in statutory guidance. The Environmental permit may also cover energy efficiency, site restoration, noise, odour, waste minimisation, accident prevention and heat and vibrations. Permit conditions for Part B installations only cover emissions to air.

There are two types of environmental permits:

  • Bespoke Permits; which are individually tailored to an operator containing conditions specific to the installation
  • Standard Rules Permits; for less complex operations, which include a single condition referring to the standard rules with which the operator must comply

 


 

Applying for a Permit

Only the person who has control over the operation of a regulated facility may obtain or hold an Environmental Permit. This person is the ‘operator’ (as defined in regulation 7 of EPR Regulations).

 

A ‘’Duly Made’’ application must be made on the relevant form to the relevant regulator, and must include information which is specified on the application form or online for each type of application.

 

A fee may be payable, depending on the type of application and type of regulated activity. 

If further information is required, the applicant will be notified by the regulator and they must provide this information or the application will be deemed to be withdrawn.

 

The application must be from the operator of the regulated facility.

 

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

 

Apply for a permit.

 

Should you wish to discuss any aspect of applying for a permit please contact us.

 

Telephone: 01446 709105 or email: regserv@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

 

 


 

Application evaluation process

There are specified timescales within which an application must be determined by the regulator, depending on the type of application. For details of determination periods see the General Guidance Manual on Policy and Procedures for A2 and B installations.

 

The application must be submitted by the operator of the regulated facility and the regulator must be satisfied that they must operate the facility in accordance with the conditions set out in the environmental permit.

 

In addition to effecting control over emissions, permit conditions may also be included requiring notification of any significant changes to the regulated facility or a change in the Operator.

 

 

 


 

 

What happens when a permit is granted?

 

Once a permit has been granted the Regulator will carry out regular inspections of the facility to check that the operator is complying with the conditions of the permit. The frequency of inspection is determined by a risk assessment. An annual fee, set by the Welsh Assembly Government, is charged to cover the cost of the inspection and administration of the Permit.

 

 

 

 

Vale of Glamorgan Council, Civic Offices, Holton Road, Barry CF63 4RU, Tel: (01446) 700111