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Get an environmental permit for intensive livestock
Step-by-step guide for intensive poultry and pig farmers who need an Environment Agency environmental permit under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016. Covers permit thresholds, pre-application ammonia screening, the bespoke Part A(1) application process, BAT compliance, ongoing permit conditions, variation and surrender, and interaction with planning permission. Includes devolved nation guidance for Scotland (PPC regime via SEPA) and Wales (NRW).
UK-wide
Guide summary
If you keep large numbers of poultry or pigs, you must get an environmental permit before operating. Check if your farm meets the threshold numbers. Apply at least 4 months before stocking animals. Follow strict rules to avoid fines or prison.
- Check if you have over 40,000 birds or 2,000 pigs (30kg+)
- Apply for permit 4-13 months before stocking animals
- Use SCAIL tool to check ammonia impact first
- Pay £17,932 for new permit application
- Follow Best Available Techniques (BAT) rules
- Report ammonia emissions yearly
- Risk 5 years prison if operating without permit
- Pay up to £60,000 for false information
- Check if sites share manure handling systems
- Model ammonia impact if near protected habitats
On this page
UK-wide
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If you keep intensive poultry or pigs above certain thresholds, you must hold a Part A(1) environmental permit from the Environment Agency before you can operate. This is a legal requirement under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, Schedule 1, Section 6.9 (Intensive farming).
Operating without a permit is a criminal offence carrying severe penalties including imprisonment. The Environment Agency can prosecute, and you may also be required to cease operations and remediate any environmental damage at your own cost.
This guide covers the full process from determining whether you need a permit through to ongoing compliance. The process typically takes 4 to 13 months from application to determination, so you should start well before you plan to stock your installation.
Do you need a permit?
You need an environmental permit if your installation exceeds any of the thresholds below. These apply to the total capacity of the installation, not the number of animals present at any one time.
What counts towards the threshold
The threshold applies to the total designed capacity of all housing on the installation, including all poultry houses or pig buildings on the same site and capacity for all age groups. If two or more sites share infrastructure (such as manure handling) and are operated as a single installation, the Environment Agency may treat them as one installation.
Cattle are not in scope
Dairy and beef cattle units are not currently within Schedule 1, Section 6.9, however large. A Defra consultation on extending environmental permitting to dairy and intensive beef farms is expected in summer 2026, but no permit requirement applies to cattle today.
Pre-application: ammonia screening and habitat assessment
Before submitting your permit application, you must assess the ammonia impact of your installation on nearby sensitive habitats. This is a critical step that determines the complexity and cost of your application.
Step 1: Run the SCAIL-Agriculture screening
Use the free SCAIL-Agriculture online tool to screen your installation. You will need your proposed livestock numbers, housing type, grid reference, and the location of nearby designated sites (SSSIs, SACs, SPAs).
Step 2: Interpret your SCAIL results
If your predicted ammonia concentration at all nearby designated sites is below 1% of the critical level, your screening is complete. Include the SCAIL report with your permit application.
If your predicted concentration exceeds 1% of the critical level at any designated site, you must commission detailed dispersion modelling using AERMOD from a specialist air quality consultant. This typically costs between 2,000 and 5,000 pounds and takes 4 to 8 weeks.
Step 3: Consult Natural England
If your installation is near a European site (SAC or SPA), the Environment Agency will consult Natural England as part of the Habitats Regulations Assessment. Engage Natural England early through their Discretionary Advice Service (charged at 735 per day as of 2024-25) to identify issues before you submit.
Natural England may object if ammonia deposition at a designated site already exceeds its critical load. You may need to demonstrate your installation will not increase total ammonia deposition, for example by using BAT to reduce emissions below those of an existing installation you are replacing.
Submitting your application
You apply for a Part A(1) bespoke environmental permit through the Environment Agency's online permitting service. The application is substantial and most applicants use an environmental consultant to prepare it.
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1
Prepare your application documents
You will need: a completed Part A application form, a site plan showing all buildings and emission points, SCAIL results or AERMOD modelling report, a manure management plan, an odour management plan, a noise impact assessment, details of your proposed BAT measures, and a site condition report (baseline survey of land contamination).
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2
Pay the application fee
The application fee for a new bespoke Part A(1) intensive farming installation is £8,324.76 (Environment Agency charges from 1 April 2026). This is non-refundable, even if your application is refused. Check the current charging scheme on GOV.UK before submitting.
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3
Submit through the online permitting service
Submit your application and supporting documents through the Environment Agency online service. You will receive an acknowledgement within 5 working days confirming whether your application is duly made (complete) or requires further information.
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4
Public consultation period
The Environment Agency will publish your application on its public register and invite representations. For new installations, this typically runs for 20 working days. Nearby residents, parish councils, and environmental groups may submit comments.
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5
Await determination
The Environment Agency aims to determine bespoke permit applications within 13 months, though straightforward applications may be determined in 4 to 6 months. During this period, the Agency may request additional information or propose draft conditions for your comment.
BAT compliance
Your permit conditions will require you to operate in accordance with Best Available Techniques (BAT), as defined in the BREF for the Intensive Rearing of Poultry or Pigs (retained in UK law post-Brexit). BAT covers housing design, manure management, feeding strategies to lower nitrogen excretion, energy and water efficiency, and odour and noise control.
BAT-Associated Emission Levels (BAT-AELs)
Your permit will set specific emission limits for ammonia based on the BAT-AELs. These vary by species, housing system, and whether the installation is new or existing. You must demonstrate compliance through annual monitoring and reporting.
If your installation cannot meet a BAT-AEL, you must apply to the Environment Agency for a derogation, providing evidence that achieving the limit would lead to disproportionately higher costs compared to the environmental benefit.
Ongoing permit conditions and compliance
Permit conditions are legally binding. Breach of a condition is a criminal offence. Typical conditions include emission limits for ammonia, regular monitoring and annual reporting, record-keeping for livestock numbers and feed composition, up-to-date management plans (manure, odour, noise), and incident response procedures.
Permit variation
You must apply to vary your permit before making any change that could affect emissions, such as increasing livestock capacity, changing housing systems, or adding new emission sources. Variation applications attract a fee and may require additional ammonia modelling.
Permit surrender
If you permanently cease operations, you must apply to surrender your permit. You will need to demonstrate that the site has been returned to a satisfactory state compared to the site condition report submitted with your original application.
Interaction with other consents
An environmental permit does not replace other regulatory requirements. Intensive livestock installations typically need multiple consents, which the NFU has identified as a significant source of regulatory burden (permit stacking).
- Planning permission: New livestock buildings usually require planning consent. Buildings for intensive livestock are frequently excluded from permitted development rights. Progress planning and environmental permitting in parallel where possible.
- Building regulations: Large intensive installations typically fall within scope for structural safety, fire safety, and drainage.
- SSSI consent: If near a Site of Special Scientific Interest, you may need consent from Natural England under Section 28E of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
- Water abstraction and discharge: Separate licences may be required if your installation abstracts water or discharges to surface water or groundwater.
Next steps
- Check the thresholds - confirm whether your current or proposed livestock numbers require a permit
- Run SCAIL screening - use the free online tool to assess ammonia impact on nearby designated sites
- Engage a consultant - most applicants use an environmental consultant to prepare the application (budget 5,000 to 15,000 pounds for consultancy fees in addition to the application fee)
- Contact the Environment Agency - request pre-application advice to identify potential issues early (this service is free and strongly recommended)
- Apply in parallel - progress your environmental permit application and planning application simultaneously to avoid unnecessary delays