Southwest
Environmental LimitedSouthwest
Environmental Limited| London |
| 02076 920 670 |
| Exeter |
| 01392 927 961 |
| Manchester |
| 01612 970 026 |
| Bristol |
| 01173 270 092 |
Below is a list of standard environmental permits:
If your activity is in the list below then that's good. Standard permits are generally a lot easier to apply for than bespoke permits, however, you must check to see of your operation meets the general requirements of the permit relating to your operation.
If you would like advice on a permit application please ring the office for a free appraisal.
Standard Rules Environmental Permits are a fixed-set of rules designed by the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for common, low-to-medium risk activities. If your operation aligns perfectly with the criteria of an existing Standard Rule, you can benefit from a significantly lower application fee. However, the 'Duly Made' validation process is strict; if your site is within a sensitive distance of a SSSI or SAC, you may be ineligible and must pursue a bespoke engineering solution.
As of 2026, many of the legacy SR2008 and SR2010 series permits are no longer available for new applications. They
have been consolidated into the SR2021 and SR2022 series to reflect modern environmental standards. Below are the current equivalents:
The biggest risk with Standard Rules permits is 'non-conformance.' If a site is located within a sensitive distance of a RAMSAR or SSSI site, the application will be rejected and a portion of your application fee may be lost. We provide the "True Data" and professional vetting required to ensure your site is eligible. With over 900 projects delivered, SWEL acts as your technical advocate, ensuring your permitting strategy is the most efficient path to operational success.