Apply for a pollution control (part B) permit

We authorise some polluting processes (PDF, 188KB) depending on what your business does. View the public register (PDF, 39KB) of businesses we have authorised.

We are responsible for licensing:

• dry cleaning
• the unloading of petrol
• vapour recovery at a service station or storage location
• respraying of road vehicles
• mobile concrete batching, crushing and screening
• the blending, packing, batching and loading of bulk cement
• waste oil burning
• coating of metals, plastics and wood products
• cremation
• concrete crushing
• printing works
• quarry processes
• timber processing
• powder coating
• wood coating

Read the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)'s  pollution and prevention and control (PPC) guidance notes for the full list. You can also read Defra's guidance on local authority pollution control.

Dry cleaning premises

If you run a dry cleaners, you must not not emit more than 20g of solvent per kg of product cleaned and dried. This includes all organic solvents. If you exceed this limit, you could face an unlimited fine or a prison sentence.

Return an annual record of your solvent use to us by the end of January each year. We've included the form you should use with other inventory form (PDF, 295KB). Email completed forms to environmental.protection@southwark.gov.uk. 

Apply for a part B environmental permit

You can:

• Apply for a general part B permit

• Apply for a part B permit for dry cleaners

• Apply for a part B permit for vehicle paint spraying

• Apply for a part B permit for petrol stations

The operator of the regulated facility must submit the application. You pay an application fee (PDF, 79KB) as part of the online process.

We'll inspect your premises after receiving your application. This visit is to make sure you’re operating to the right standards. We try to grant permits within 3 to 4 months.

You can transfer a permit in whole or in part to another person. You and the 'proposed transferee' must jointly apply to have the permit transferred. After visiting your premises, we aim to transfer the licence within 8 weeks. Mobile plant operators can apply to transfer a permit for a limited period.

Apply for reduced annual charges instead of surrendering your permit. This applies if you plan to pause work or operate at reduced capacity for under 2 years.

Apply to vary a permit after reading the guidance on permit variations (page 150). We'll visit the premises to discuss the variation. We aim to transfer the permit within 3 to 4 months after public consultation.

Surrender all or part of your permit if you have stopped operating or intend to do so. We'll aim to grant the surrender of your permit within 20 working days.

If we reject an application, you can appeal to the Secretary of State within 6 months.

Get more information from:

• Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA)
• Environmental Industries Commission (EIC)
• Environmental Services Associations (ESA)