Industrial pollution control

To prevent pollution, certain industrial activities that involve using or emitting specific substances must have a permit. 

A permit is an official legal document, which sets out conditions that the operator must comply with. A permitted process is referred to as an installation. An installation may include more than one relevant activity.

Types of industrial installations requiring a permit

Industrial installations are categorised into three types, based on the activity and scale:

Part A1 installations

The Environment Agency regulates A1 installations. These are larger, complex and potentially more polluting industries, like landfill sites and power stations. For A1 installation enquiries, visit the Environmental Permits section on the GOV.UK website.

Part A2 installations

Oxford City Council oversees A2 installations, known as Local Authority Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (LA-IPPC). A2 installations include activities like vehicle surface coating in manufacturing. A2 operators must protect the environment from emissions to air, water (including discharges to sewer) and land.

Part B installations

Part B installations, regulated by Oxford City Council, have the least potential for pollution of the 3 types of activity They include dry cleaners, car re-sprayers and petrol stations. Part B is only regulated for air emissions and is known as Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC).

Oxford City Council's role

Our responsibilities for A2 and B installations include:

• granting or refusing permit applications
• issuing and reviewing pollution permits
• inspecting installations with permits
• ensuring compliance with permits, using enforcement powers if needed
• maintaining a public register of permitted processes

If your business might need a permit, please contact us to discuss an application.

How to apply for a permit

Download our Pollution Permit Application Forms.

Pollution permit fees and charges are available on the on GOV.UK website.

Send completed forms to permitting@oxford.gov.uk.

Permitted installations in Oxford

Oxford currently has these permitted installations:

1 Part A2 Installation

• BMW (UK) Manufacturing Ltd. - painting vehicles during manufacture

21 Part B Installations

• 4 small waste oil burners
• 8 petrol stations
• 2 vehicle re-sprayers
• 7 dry cleaners