What law requires environmental permits in England and Wales?

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (EPR) consolidate permitting for waste operations, water discharges, installations, and mining-waste activities. Larger industrial installations are also driven by the EU Industrial Emissions Directive, which the EPR implements domestically. Scotland and Northern Ireland have parallel regimes.

What is the difference between standard rules and bespoke permits?

A standard rules permit is a pre-set, lower-cost permit for common, lower-risk activities that fit a published rule set — it is quicker and cheaper to obtain. A bespoke permit is tailored to your specific site and is needed when your activity falls outside any standard rule set, is larger, or poses site-specific risks.

When can I use a waste exemption instead of a permit?

Some low-risk waste activities can be registered as exemptions rather than fully permitted, for example storing or treating small quantities of specific waste types. Exemptions still require registration with the regulator and have strict limits on waste type and tonnage; exceed those and you need a permit.

What capacity makes a combustion plant a permitted installation?

Combustion plant with a total rated thermal input of 50 MW or more is a Chapter II installation under the Industrial Emissions Directive and needs a bespoke installation permit. Medium combustion plant between 1 MW and 50 MW falls under the Medium Combustion Plant Directive and needs a permit, while smaller units may be exempt.

Is this a substitute for advice from the regulator?

No. This is an indicative triage tool. The exact permit you need depends on detailed definitions, waste codes, location (such as proximity to protected sites), and emissions. Always confirm with the Environment Agency, SEPA, NRW, or NIEA, and check current charging schemes before applying.

Environmental Permit Requirement Checker (UK/EU)

Many business activities that handle waste, burn fuel, emit to air or water, or use solvents need an environmental permit before they can lawfully operate. This checker applies the main thresholds in the Environmental Permitting Regulations and the Industrial Emissions Directive to tell you the likely permit tier.

How it works

The tool routes on activity type, then applies the scale threshold for that route:

Waste:        small + listed type -> exemption (register)
              up to standard-rules limit -> standard rules permit
              above -> bespoke permit
Combustion:   <1 MW   -> often exempt
              1–50 MW -> MCPD permit
              >=50 MW -> IED installation (bespoke)
Industrial:   listed Part A(1)/IED activity -> bespoke installation permit
Water:        discharge to ground/surface water -> permit (standard or bespoke)
Solvent:      over the solvent-use threshold -> installation permit

Indicative charge bands rise with the tier: exemptions are free or low-cost, standard-rules permits are a fixed mid-range fee, and bespoke permits carry the highest application and annual subsistence charges.

Notes and example

A site storing 40 tonnes of non-hazardous waste for transfer is typically within standard-rules permit territory rather than a full bespoke permit, keeping costs and timelines down. A 60 MW biomass boiler, by contrast, crosses the 50 MW Industrial Emissions Directive threshold and needs a bespoke installation permit with the highest charge band. Thresholds and charges change, and location near protected habitats can force a bespoke route — always confirm with the relevant regulator before applying.