Pollution, prevention and control

This page provides information on North Devon Council’s proactive work to control atmospheric emissions.

The law places an emphasis on preventing or minimising emissions wherever achievable and ensuring that emissions occur in a controlled manner.

Local air pollution control (LAPC)

Part 1 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 gives local authorities regulatory control of emissions to air from a range of different industrial activities, known as ’prescribed processes‘, some other processes are regulated by the Environment Agency .

Operators of prescribed processes are required to hold an authorisation in order to legally operate the process. The authorisation will contain enforceable conditions designed to control emissions to atmosphere and/or to prevent the operation of the process causing a nuisance to occupiers of other premises.

Certain authorisations might contain conditions limiting the amount or concentration of emissions to atmosphere. Others might contain conditions relating to the type of materials that are permitted. It is an offence for an operator to contravene a condition of authorisation.

Authorisations, monitoring data and any enforcement action taken in respect of a prescribed process on our public register.
The Environment Agency regulates the largest processes under this legislation, via the integrated pollution control (IPC) regime. Details of the prescribed processes regulated by the Environment Agency are also be found on the public register. Any enquiries concerning these processes however should be directed to the Environment Agency Devon area office on 08708 506506.

In addition to those processes currently regulated by North Devon Council or the Environment Agency, processes that have at some time been authorised but have subsequently had the permit revoked are also held on the public register. For the majority, this is for the simple reason that the process has ceased to operate, or that operating parameters have fallen below that at which a permit is required - but this is not the case for all.

The LAPC regime is being phased out - to be replaced by integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2000 .

Integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC)

IPPC broadens the scope of those industrial emissions considered by the regulatory process. In particular, permits issued under the new regime may include both noise and energy efficiency for the first time. Additionally, new types of process have been added to the list of those covered by the legislation.

The IPPC regime is being phased in, with each type of process transferring from the former LAPC/IPC regulatory process by predefined dates.

There are three broad classifications of process, each classification defining both the regulator and those matters to be regulated, as follows:

A1 and A2 processes will have permits covering the full scope of environmental emissions (including noise and energy efficiency); Part B processes will have permits covering emissions to air only (similar to the former LAPC system).

Further Information