Woking Borough Council
Civic OfficesGloucester SquareWokingSurreyGU21 6YL
Telephone: 01483 755855
Industrial processes
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 and The Pollution Prevention Control Act 1999 require operators of certain industrial processes with the potential to cause significant air pollution to apply for a permit to operate their business.
Sites which are likely to have a greater environmental impact are known as Part A(1) processes and permits for these sites are issued and controlled by the Environment Agency. These sites will be subject to more rigorous controls due to their increased potential to have a significant impact on the environment.
Other processes which require a permit to operate will be classified as either a Part A(2) process or a Part B process depending on their potential to harm the environment.
Both A(2) and Part B processes are controlled by the Local Authority and an operator of such processes must apply to them for a permit. Examples of operations which require permits are car re-sprayers, cement batching plants, petrol stations and other users of large quantities of solvents.
Once granted, the permit will be issued with conditions which relate to the management of the site, emission limits and any other process controls which the operator must comply with. The operator is required to pay an application fee and an annual subsistence fee to the regulator for their permit. Conditions within the permit are based on information provided in Process Guidance Notes (PG Notes) which are issued by the Secretary of State and which are specific to each industrial sector. All operators are kept on public register.
Failure to comply with permit conditions and also the operation of a process without an appropriate permit is an offence which can result in heavy fines and the Environmental Health Service will regularly inspect those sites with permits to ensure that conditions are being complied with.
Further information
Further guidance on industrial air pollution control can also be found on the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs website and from the Environment Agency.