Environmental permitting consultants prepare, submit and defend the Environmental Permits required to operate regulated facilities in the UK under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016. Alkali's permitting consultants are former Environment Agency officers who draft bespoke and standard rules applications, variations and surrenders — pitched at exactly what the regulator expects, which is what reduces Schedule 5 information requests and shortens determination time.
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Environmental permitting consultants delivering end-to-end EA permit applications, variations, surrender and permit defence under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016. Applications drafted by former Environment Agency officers — nationwide coverage across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (EA, NRW, SEPA and NIEA). Alkali tracks current UK regulations — including EPR 2016 updates, MCPD, EA H1 and the new PG5/2(25) statutory guidance for crematoria — and drafts, varies and defends the permits each one triggers.
Former Environment Agency Officers
EA · NRW · SEPA · NIEA
Bespoke, Standard Rules & MCP
Fixed-Fee Scoping
Free Permit Review
In-House MCERTS Testing
Environmental permitting in a nutshell
The short version for anyone who has just been told they need a permit, a variation or a surrender.
Why you need it
Operating a regulated activity without the right Environmental Permit — or outside its conditions — is a criminal offence under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, with unlimited fines and permit suspension.
What we do
Former Environment Agency officers scope the correct permit route, draft the application or variation, and build the evidence pack: BAT, H1 risk assessment, management system, fire prevention plan and monitoring proposals.
What you get
A duly-made submission written the way determining officers read them, direct handling of Schedule 5 information requests, and monitoring conditions your site can actually meet.
How it starts
Send us your draft application, existing permit or a short process description. We confirm the permit route and issue a fixed-fee scope — usually within one working day.
Environmental permit readiness check
Eight questions the Environment Agency will effectively ask of your application. Answer them here to see where your submission stands — nothing is sent anywhere.
1. Do you know whether you need a bespoke permit, standard rules permit or an exemption?
The permit route drives fee, determination time and evidence. Choosing wrongly is the most expensive mistake in permitting — a bespoke application submitted where standard rules apply wastes months.
2. Have you confirmed the exact EPR Schedule 1 activity and capacity thresholds for your process?
The EA determines against the listed activity, not your description of it. Getting the activity class or throughput wrong invalidates the application at the duly-made check.
3. Do you have an H1 environmental risk assessment covering air, odour, noise, groundwater and habitats?
Bespoke permits require H1 screening, and where screening fails, detailed dispersion modelling. Missing H1 evidence is the single most common Schedule 5 information request.
4. Can you demonstrate BAT for your abatement and controls against the relevant BAT conclusions?
IED installations must be assessed against sector BAT Conclusions and BAT-AELs. A narrative that doesn't cite the reference document rarely survives determination.
5. Do you know what emissions monitoring the permit will impose, and can your stack support it?
Monitoring conditions are written at determination and bind you for the permit's life. Sampling positions that don't meet BS EN 15259 turn into pre-operational conditions and retrofit cost.
6. Is there a documented management system, competency record and accident management plan?
Every permit requires a written management system. For waste sites a fire prevention plan and, where relevant, an odour or dust management plan are also mandatory.
7. Is planning permission in place or running in parallel with the permit application?
Permitting and planning are separate regimes. Running them in parallel is usually faster, but the descriptions of the operation must match or both consents come under challenge.
8. Do you have a fixed date the permit must be in place by (commissioning, contract or enforcement)?
EA determination targets are 3–4 months for standard and 4 months+ for bespoke, and the clock stops for every information request. Programmes need to be built backwards from the operational date.
0 of 8 answered — 0 already in place. Complete the check for your readiness verdict.
Environmental permit costs and determination times — published, not hidden
Indicative Environment Agency application fees and realistic determination timescales by permit route, with the point at which we get you submission-ready. Subsistence charges are additional and depend on your OPRA score.
Environmental permit routes, indicative EA fees, determination times and Alkali lead times
Permit route
Indicative EA fee
Typical determination
Alkali lead time
Standard rules permit (waste or installation)
from ~£1,600
4–8 weeks
2–3 weeks to submission-ready
Bespoke installation permit (Part A(1) / IED)
£10,000+
4–13 months
4–8 weeks to submission-ready
Medium Combustion Plant / Specified Generator
from ~£1,500 per plant
3–4 months
2–4 weeks to submission-ready
Permit variation (normal or substantial)
£1,500–£8,000
2–6 months
1–4 weeks to submission-ready
Permit transfer or surrender
£100–£2,500
4–12 weeks
1–2 weeks to submission-ready
What actually drives the consultancy cost
•Number and type of EPR Schedule 1 activities being permitted on one site
•Whether H1 screening passes or triggers detailed ADMS/AERMOD dispersion modelling
•Habitats screening where an SSSI, SAC, SPA or Ramsar site sits within the screening distance
•Fire prevention plan, odour management plan or dust management plan requirements
•Whether a management system already exists or must be written from scratch
•Public consultation and any call-in or objection handling for higher-profile sites
Our permitting service commitments
•Fixed-fee scope issued within one working day of receiving your process description.
•Applications drafted by former Environment Agency permitting officers — never delegated to juniors.
•Schedule 5 information requests answered by us, at no extra cost, within the regulator's deadline.
•Monitoring conditions negotiated with our in-house MCERTS testers so they are deliverable on your stack.
•Free pre-submission review of any application you have already drafted in-house.
Six reasons the Environment Agency stops the clock on permit applications
Wrong or incomplete Schedule 1 activity description
The application fails the duly-made check before technical assessment even starts. Fees are not refunded and the programme restarts.
H1 risk assessment missing or unscreened
The most common Schedule 5 information request. Determination is suspended until the modelling and receptor assessment are supplied.
BAT narrative not tied to BAT Conclusions
Generic 'we use modern equipment' text triggers a technical challenge. IED installations must be assessed line-by-line against sector BAT-AELs.
Monitoring proposals the site cannot deliver
Sampling positions that fail BS EN 15259 become pre-operational conditions and expensive stack retrofits after issue.
Management system with no competency or accident evidence
Permits require documented procedures, named competent persons and an accident management plan — not a policy statement.
Planning and permit descriptions that don't match
Where throughput, hours or plant capacity differ between the two consents, both become vulnerable to challenge and to enforcement later.
One consultancy for the whole permit lifecycle
A permit is rarely a standalone job. The same application usually needs modelling before submission, baseline monitoring to support it, and accredited stack testing once the permit is issued. Alkali delivers all three in-house, so the monitoring conditions written into your permit are conditions we know your site can meet.
Before you apply
Air quality assessment & dispersion modelling
H1 screening, ADMS/AERMOD modelling and receptor impact assessment — the evidence the Environment Agency asks for most often when determining a bespoke permit.
NO2 diffusion tubes, real-time PM10 and PM2.5 monitoring to establish the local baseline your permit application and planning conditions are judged against.
The monitoring your permit conditions require, delivered under UKAS Lab 24303 by MCERTS Level 2 personnel — with reports written for the regulator, not just for you.
Bespoke, Standard Rules, MCP, Specified Generator, Waste, IED
Typical determination
EA target 3–4 months for standard, 4 months+ for bespoke
Includes
Application, BAT, H1, fire prevention, OPRA scoring, variations
Coverage
All Environment Agency regions, NRW, SEPA, NIEA
UKAS Accredited Stack Testing (Lab 24303)
Regulator-Ready Reports
14-Day Query Support
Pre-Submission Review
Compliance Confidence Included
Pre-submission review, regulator-ready documentation, and 14 days of post-submission query support are included as standard — to reduce refusal risk and enforcement delays.
Environmental Permitting Consultants UK – EA Permit Applications, Variations and Defence
Alkali is a UK environmental permitting consultancy specialising in Environmental Permits under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. Our permitting consultants cover waste operations, Part A(1) and Part A(2) installations, water discharges, groundwater activities, Medium Combustion Plants and Specified Generators — nationwide across the EA, NRW, SEPA and NIEA. The single highest cause of determination delay is an evidence pack that doesn't pre-empt regulator questions. Because our permitting consultants are former Environment Agency officers, applications and variations are structured the way determining officers actually read them, reducing Schedule 5 information requests and accelerating issue.
Why Choose Alkali as Your Environmental Permitting Consultants
Operators typically choose Alkali over larger permitting consultancies because:
Applications are drafted by former Environment Agency permitting officers — not delegated to junior staff
Fixed-price scoping so you know the cost of the permit application before you commit
Nationwide coverage across EA, NRW, SEPA and NIEA — one consultancy, every UK regulator
Integrated in-house MCERTS stack emissions testing means monitoring conditions are written to be met, not just written
Direct regulator engagement on Schedule 5 requests, pre-application meetings and enforcement response
Track record across waste, MCP, crematoria (PG5/2(25)), IED installations and Specified Generators
When Environmental Permitting Support Is Required
Environmental permitting support is typically required where:
You need to check if an Environmental Permit is required for a new activity, site, plant or process
You are applying for a new permit for waste, emissions, discharges or regulated installations
You need a permit variation (process changes, throughput increases, new emission points, abatement changes)
You require a permit transfer (change of operator) or permit surrender
Regulators request improved evidence for monitoring, management plans or compliance controls
The purpose of environmental permitting is to ensure regulated activities are operated using appropriate controls, monitoring and management so risks to people and the environment are reduced. From an operator perspective, a strong permit submission and compliance framework reduces regulator queries, avoids programme delay and strengthens stakeholder confidence.
How Environmental Permitting Works in Practice
Permitting is rarely just "a form". It typically requires supporting evidence such as risk assessments, management plans, monitoring proposals, emissions evidence and design information. A structured permitting approach focuses on: defining the activity correctly, selecting the right permit route, building a complete evidence pack, and ensuring the operational controls described are realistic and implementable on site.
Evidence pack development to reduce regulator questions and rework
Risk assessments and management plans aligned to permit expectations
Monitoring and reporting framework (what to monitor, how, frequency, evidence)
BAT and operational controls to demonstrate appropriate control and improvement
Regulator engagement support (responses, clarification, evidence updates)
What the Service Delivers
Clear permitting pathway and submission plan
Application support with a complete, structured evidence pack
Monitoring and reporting proposals aligned to permit conditions and regulator expectations
Management plan and operational control improvements to reduce compliance risk
Regulator query support to reduce determination delays
What We Need From You
Process description, site layout and proposed operating hours/throughput
Proposed emission points, abatement/control measures and monitoring history
Waste types and acceptance/handling details (where waste is in scope)
Any planning context, stakeholder constraints or regulator feedback already received
Limitations and Scope
Permit outcomes depend on regulator determination and the quality of evidence provided. Our role is to strengthen completeness, clarity and defensibility so the regulator can determine efficiently and the site can operate as described without compliance gaps.
How much does an environmental permit cost in the UK?
EA application fees range from ~£1,600 for standard rules permits to £10,000+ for bespoke installations, with annual subsistence on top. Consultancy support for a robust application typically runs £3,000–£15,000 depending on complexity. We provide a fixed-price quote after scope review.
How long does the EA take to determine a permit?
Standard rules permits typically issue in 4–8 weeks. Bespoke installations take 3–6 months and longer where Schedule 5 information requests are triggered. Parallel-track preparation (evidence built alongside design) routinely halves elapsed time.
What's the difference between Part A(1), Part A(2) and Part B permits?
Part A(1) (high pollution potential) is regulated by the EA. Part A(2) and Part B (mainly air emissions) are regulated by the Local Authority. The category dictates determining authority, monitoring scope, reporting obligations and subsistence charges.
What do environmental permitting consultants do?
Environmental permitting consultants scope, draft, submit and defend Environmental Permit applications, variations, transfers and surrenders on behalf of operators. That includes selecting the correct permit route (bespoke, standard rules, MCP, Specified Generator, waste, IED), building the evidence pack (BAT, H1, fire prevention plan, management system, monitoring), responding to Schedule 5 information requests and engaging directly with the EA, NRW, SEPA or NIEA determining officer. Alkali's environmental permitting consultants are former Environment Agency officers who deliver all of the above under a fixed-price scope.
How do I choose the right environmental permitting consultant in the UK?
Look for regulator background (ex-EA, NRW, SEPA or NIEA officers write applications that match how determining officers assess them), fixed-price scoping so cost is predictable, direct authorship (not delegation to junior staff), and integrated in-house monitoring so permit conditions are written to be met. Alkali covers all four, plus MCERTS stack emissions testing under the same roof so compliance evidence is delivered without a second supplier.
Can you handle EA permit support after issue — variations and surrender?
Yes. We deliver substantial and administrative variations, transfers, partial surrenders and full surrender (including site condition reports comparing against the baseline).
What happens if the EA serves an enforcement notice?
We provide enforcement response support: root-cause analysis, corrective action plans, improved monitoring/reporting frameworks and direct EA engagement to demonstrate restored compliance.
Do I need an EPR permit, an MCP permit or a Specified Generator permit?
It depends on activity, plant type and thermal input. Combustion plant 1–50 MW falls under the MCPD/Specified Generator regimes (often via EPR Schedule 25A/25B), while installations covered by Schedule 1 of EPR 2016 take the standard installation route. We confirm the correct regime in scoping.
What is PG5/2(25) and when will my crematorium permit be reviewed?
PG5/2(25) is the new UK-wide statutory technical guidance for crematoria, published on 4 December 2025 and updated during 2026. Local authority regulators are expected to use it when assessing applications and reviewing permits. The guidance says all crematoria permits shall be reviewed within 2 years of publication (i.e. by 4 December 2027), or earlier where new, replacement or substantially changed cremators are installed. Alkali can review your current permit against PG5/2(25) and identify likely evidence gaps ahead of regulator review.
Does PG5/2(25) require flue gas treatment and mercury abatement on all cremators?
Unless a limited exemption or derogation applies, PG5/2(25) requires all new and replacement cremators to be fitted with flue gas treatment including mercury abatement from 1 month after publication, and all cremators to be so fitted within 4 years of publication — otherwise operation is limited to 100 hours per calendar year. For existing unabated cremators the burden-sharing arrangement remains in place until 31 December 2029 with a final report due by 1 April 2030. Alkali supports the permit variations needed to install abatement, revise emission points and update monitoring conditions.
What permit variations are triggered by PG5/2(25)?
Variations are typically needed where cremators are replaced or retrofitted with flue gas treatment and mercury abatement, where stack height or discharge conditions change, where new NOx or ammonia monitoring is added, or where regulators impose tighter emission limit values following the new air quality assessment expectations. Alkali drafts crematoria permit variations, supporting H1 and BAT evidence, and updated monitoring schedules aligned with PG5/2(25).
Get environmental compliance quotes online
Skip the back-and-forth. Add the services you need, share your permit or scope, and Alkali responds with a clear, fixed-fee proposal — usually within one working day. Faster scoping, fewer emails, more accurate quotes.
Environmental Permits UK – EA Applications & Support in action
See how UK clients have used our environmental permits uk – ea applications & support expertise to satisfy regulators, planning authorities, and operational deadlines.
A leading UK lead and silver refinery producing approximately 180,000 tonnes of refined lead each year needed to complete its annual MCERTS emissions monitoring programme to demonstrate compliance with its Environmental Permit. With two furnaces operating on different schedules and a newly commissioned sampling location to validate, careful planning was essential to complete the work within the available operating window while avoiding disruption to continuous production.
Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) were developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate the potential health impacts of accidental chemical releases into the air. They define concentration thresholds for three effect levels:
Approach
Alkali Consultants deployed their in-house AEGL specialist, applying ADMS dispersion modelling software to calculate NO₂ AEGL concentrations (ppm) at 40 sensitive receptors surrounding the proposed data centre. Close collaboration with the client ensured the EA's requirements were fully addressed at each stage. By combining international best practice with rigorous modelling, Alkali Consultants demonstrated the flexibility to meet regulatory demands beyond conventional UK frameworks.
Outcome
All five time-period objectives for NO₂ AEGLs were achieved.
