Regulated installations

What is a regulated installation?

A regulated installation is a commercial or industrial premises or process issued with a Permit under the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2010 [753kb], (Pollution Prevention and Control Act (PPC) 1999).

What is a Permit?

A Permit is effectively a license to operate a polluting process. Central Government prescribes which types of process or installation require a Permit and issues guidance to local authorities on the conditions that should be imposed to control and monitor potentially polluting practices.

Both the Environment Agency and local authorities regulate permitted installations. The Environment Agency regulates 'Part A(1)' installations, which are those larger industrial processes that involve the significant release of pollutants to the air, water and land environments.

Local authorities regulate medium sized 'Part A(2)' installations also for the release of pollutants to the air, water and land environments and, more commonly, 'Part B' smaller installations which involve the release of pollutants to air only.

Permit conditions place strict requirements on the nature and duration of emissions from the installation. There are explicit conditions on odour emissions from the processes and the level of pollutants contained in emissions, which in most cases, must be independently monitored annually. We also regularly inspect processes to ensure compliance with Permit requirements.

What types of installations require a 'Part A(2) or a 'Part B' Permit?

Local authorities permit a wide-range of installations such as concrete batching plants, quarries, mobile crushing plants, metal coating processes, wood products manufacturing and larger car repair shops. Small waste oil burners, dry cleaners and certain petrol stations also require a permit to operate.

Full details of all installations included within the scope of the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) 2010 Regulations can be found at Legislation.gov.uk.

Operating an installation included within the scope of the Environmental Permitting regulations without a current permit is an offence, liable to a maximum penalty upon conviction of £20,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment and to an unlimited fine and/or two years imprisonment upon conviction on indictment (i.e. in the Crown court).

Where can I get further information on regulated installations in Mid Devon?

We hold a public register of all regulated/permitted installations in Mid Devon. The public register may be viewed by request at our main offices at Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton, free of charge, between the hours 9.00am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

The public register is specific to each installation and will contain, depending on the conditions of the particular permit to operate, the following information:

• A copy of any application for Permit made
• Copies of representations made by Statutory Consultees and the public in relation to applications
• A copy of any Permits granted
• Copies of any notices served in relation to the permitted installation
• Details of any convictions relating to operation of the permitted installations
• Monitoring data relating to the installation (some permits do not contain requirements to undertake emissions monitoring and other installation data may be commercially confidential and therefore omitted from the public register)

To view a full list of authorised processes currently operating in the Mid Devon District see: Regulated Installations in Mid Devon.