Making flood defence consents part of the environmental permitting framework

Overview

This is an invitation to give your views on various aspects of the Government’s proposals to integrate flood defence consents into the Environmental Permitting regime which has been launched today.

The following listed documents may be found in the related documents section below and on Defra’s website at:

Consultation document

Annex 1; proposed exemptions

Annex 2; proposed exclusions

Impact Assessment

These documents relate to this consultation by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Welsh Government (WG) on the changes to the existing environmental permitting regulations, and proposed exemptions and exclusions from these.

The Environment Agency are carrying out a separate, though linked consultation on proposals for standard rules that would apply to permits for standard activities in England (See Related link section below).  There are no standard rules permits proposed for Wales at this time. 

Defra, WG and EA are coordinating these consultations in order to give stakeholders a clearer idea of the complete scheme.We welcome your views and comments on the proposals, primarily via the online survey. However if you wish to obtain a copy of this consultation, please contact floodreports@defra.gsi.gov.uk .

Why your views matter

We are consulting on proposals to integrate flood defence consents into the Environmental Permitting framework in England and Wales.  Defra (and the Welsh Government (WG)) is consulting on the changes to the existing environmental permitting regulations, and proposed exemptions and exclusions from these. The Environment Agency (EA) are carrying out a separate, though linked, consultation on proposals for standard rules that would apply to permits for standard activities in England.  There are no standard rules permits proposed for Wales at this time. 

Defra, WG and EA are coordinating these consultations in order to give stakeholders a clearer idea of the complete scheme. Please see the related consultations below for further details.   N.B.  Some of the questions in the Defra consultation relate to the EA consultation; you can also respond to the EA consultation through this  survey and we will send the comments to them.  If you prefer you can send comments about the EA’s proposals concerning standard rules permits (questions 4 to 8) directly to them.