Air pollution permits and authorisations

Air pollution includes smoke, fumes, gases and odours from homes and business premises.

Smoke

This is a result of incomplete combustion and shows heating appliances are working inefficiently. Smoke can be a statutory nuisance and can cause difficulty breathing.

• Frequently asked questions about smoke
• Legal Controls On Smoke

Fumes

Commonly these are from combustion processes, paint spaying operations, metal cleaning and fibreglass resin processes.

Gases

There are two main types and obviously the one we worry about most are flammable gases. If you suspect there is a gas leak near your home please call Transco 0800 111999 straight away. Do not call us as we cannot solve the problem. For smells of other gases contact us, these can come from welding or landfill sites.

Find out about the review and assessment of air quality in Wealden and air pollution forecasts.

Air pollution

The Council issues permits which specify requirements to control pollution from certain industrial processes. The Environment Agency issues similar permits for larger processes such as power stations and large metal foundries.

The Council is responsible for Local Authority Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (LA IPPC). This covers:

1) Installations known as A2 installations (referred to as A(2) in the PPC Regulations)
2) Local authority Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC), which covers installations known as Part B installations.

If you feel your process may need a permit to operate,  please visit our Environmental Permitting page or contact us directly for further advice and assistance in obtaining a permit.

View the Environment Protection Act (EPA) Permits Register

Further information about air quality in Wealden can be found in our latest Air Quality Report (pdf)