Hazardous Substances Consent
Storage of commercial chemicals & other substances
The storage and use of certain substances in specific quantities is strictly controlled in the UK by The Planning (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2015 (as amended by the Planning (Control of Major-Accident Hazards) Regulations 1999). If you are a business that uses significant quantities of chemicals or hazardous substances in your manufacturing processes you should read on.
Introduction
The regulations sole function is to prevent hazardous substances being stored above specified quantities until the responsible authorities for assessing their risk have had the opportunity to review the potential impact on people and the environment should an accident or major incident occur. This in turn informs local authority land use planning policies and that their objectives remove, reduce or prevent major accidents and their consequences.
- Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
- The Hazardous Substance Consenting authority (HSA)
In Worcestershire Regulatory Services is the HSA for Malvern Hills District Council only. If you live in another part of the County then please follow the links below.
Whats the process and how does it work ?
Storage of such chemicals is controlled through the issue of Hazardous Substance consents (HSC). These are granted and revoked by the HAS. The application process is subject to a consultation process whereby the HAS seek the views of several organisations. These are :
- Health and Safety Executive or Office of Nuclear Regulation if a nuclear site
- Environment Agency
- County Council
- Local Planning Authority as further Planning Consents may be required.
- Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service
- Parish Council that the application pertains to
- Utilities Cadent Gas Ltd or National Grid Gas PLC and National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc
- Natural England if an environmentally sensitive area is likely to be affected. European sites Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas, Ramsar sites, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or priority habitats
Once the consultation process is complete the HSE creates a three-zone map and issues advice to the HSA for or against the granting of the HSC. If HSC is granted, the three-zone map is issued to Malvern Hills Planning Department which must then consult HSE on any future planning applications proposed within the consultation distances.
Is my business affected by these regulations ?
The current list of hazardous substances and thresholds were published in 2015, see Schedule 1 of The Planning (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2015 (as amended).
WRS recommend that you contact us to discuss your application and application fee there is also a HSE ‘wizard’ which guides applications through the process. If you are familiar with the regulations and require a copy of the application forms and fee structure they can be found below
Application for continuation consent
Once we receive your application and fee we will review it and deem whether it is correctly made. We will then confirm the application's status in writing within 7-10 working days.
Once valid the application will then be sent to the relevant consultees and a copy of the application will be made available for public viewing for 28 days on the regulatory services website.
Consultees have 28 days to review the application and make representation. Following this period the HAS will either grant or refuse the application. This is normally done within 8 weeks of receipt however this may take longer depending on complexity.
Still unsure ?
Quoting the above legislation for the attention of the Technical Services team
Please contact WRS on enquiries@worcsregservices.gov.uk