Environmental permitting changes promise to slash red tape

The UK and Welsh Governments are consulting jointly on reforming environmental permitting regulations to support growth and the Plan for Change. A press release promised the changes would empower regulators to slash red tape for businesses.

The proposals cover a wide variety of activities, such as managing flood risk, handling waste and discharging water. They are designed to speed up the work of regulators and the industries they support.

The Governments said reforming the process for exemptions would help the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales, including by: simplifying processes to bring suitable land back into use for new housing or infrastructure; making it easier to install river flow and quality monitoring equipment; and enabling scaffolding to be used in or alongside rivers. All the while, rogue operators would be clamped down on, and controls applied where there is a high risk of environmental harm, the consultation said.

Operators of exempt activities are not required to hold a permit, but there are still specified conditions with which operators must comply.

The EA welcomed the proposed reforms.