Consultation on modernising environmental permitting for industry

The UK’s industrial and energy sectors are the backbone of our economy, with advanced manufacturing and clean energy industries identified as key growth-driving sectors in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.  

Environmental permitting underpins public support for these sectors through a world-leading approach to pollution control that protects local communities and the environment. Industrial emissions have fallen significantly in the last 30 years, delivering over £52 billion in benefits to human health, ecosystems and labour productivity. The UK Best Available Techniques (UK BAT) system, developed jointly with the devolved governments, provides a predictable and stable approach to co-designing improved standards with industry which is driven by consensus and evidence and helps to channel investment in clean technologies.  

However, as set out in Dan Corry’s Review of Defra’s regulatory landscape, current environmental regulation can be risk-averse, inefficient and difficult to navigate; holding back innovation and growth. The Corry Review therefore recommended a rolling programme of reform to regulation, including the environmental permitting regulations, to ensure they are effectively delivering environmental outcomes while enabling growth. 

Defra has already taken action in response to this review, however delivering the Plan for Change requires us to go further in removing barriers to growth for our key industries, while maintaining essential environmental and health protections.  

This consultation sets out a package of reforms to support innovation in emerging technologies, streamline permitting and provide the regulatory certainty our businesses need to succeed, grow and invest. This is not about deregulation – but about regulation that delivers outcomes in a more efficient, effective and targeted way. Modernising, simplifying and accelerating the permitting framework will help get Britian building, deliver clean power, improve air quality and clean up our polluted rivers, lakes and seas. 

We are proposing a once in a generation set of reforms to give us industrial regulation that helps our industry meet the challenges of the next decade and beyond. This consultation sets out principles and directions of travel, as well as some specific improvements. We want to hear from the industries and communities which are directly impacted by industrial pollution control, and from experts who have fresh ideas for more responsive, flexible and effective regulation of industrial pollution.