Permitting service levels in Natural Resources Wales
This change means that customers will have a single, clear response on permit applications and no longer have to apply to a number of different organisations to undertake certain activities.
Monitoring performance
We will be monitoring regulatory performance very closely and will provide a high quality service that meets the requirements of both the environment and businesses in Wales. Table 1 details many of the regulatory regimes that we are responsible for and the timescales we will work to.
Timescales
If you need an application determined in less than the timescales in Table 1, then please discuss this with us at the time of submission.
We recommend that you apply for permits in good time (ideally having sought pre-application advice from us), with all the necessary information and have regard for the determination timescales. Applications that are complex, have a high level of public interest, or potentially impact on a sensitive location may require a longer period to determine than that set out in Table 1.
Managing your application
When you submit a permit application to us, you will be contacted by one of our officers who will be responsible for the determination of your application. That officer will explain to you how the application will be processed, how they can be contacted and what the deadlines are for determination. They will also discuss with you your expectations.
You will be kept up to date throughout the determination process so you are aware how your application is progressing.
Table 1. Statutory determination timescales.
|
Permit/Consent/Authorisation |
Statutory Determination Period or Service Level |
Permit regime |
|---|---|---|
|
Waste Bespoke Permit |
4 months (Statutory) |
Waste |
|
Waste Standard Rule Permit |
3 months (Statutory) |
Waste |
|
Waste Permit Variation |
3 Months or 4 months with consultation (Statutory) |
Waste |
|
Waste Permit Transfer |
2 Months (Statutory) |
Waste |
|
Waste Permit Surrender |
3 months (Statutory) |
Waste |
|
Cat A Mining Waste Facilities |
9 months (Statutory) |
Waste |
|
Mobile Plant Deployments |
25 working Days (Service Level Agreement) |
Waste |
|
Waste recovery plan assessment |
25 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Waste |
|
RSR New Bespoke Permit |
4 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
RSR Standard Rule Permit |
3 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
RSR Permit Variation |
3 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
RSR Permit Surrender |
3 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
RSR Permit Transfer |
2 Months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Installation Bespoke Permit |
4 Months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Installation Substantial Variation |
4 Months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Installation Standard Rule Permit |
3 Months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Installation Permit Variation |
3 Months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Installation Permit Surrender |
3 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Installation Permit Transfer |
2 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Medium Combustion Plant / Specified Generator Bespoke Permit |
4 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Medium Combustion Plant / Specified Generator Standard Rule Permit |
3 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Medium Combustion Plant / Specified Generator Permit Variation |
3 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Medium Combustion Plant Substantial Variation |
4 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Medium Combustion Plant / Specified Generator Permit Transfer |
2 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Medium Combustion Plant / Specified Generator Permit Surrender |
3 months (Statutory) |
Installations |
|
Felling Licences |
91 days (13 weeks) (Statutory) |
Forestry |
|
EIA (Forestry) Determinations |
28 working days (Statutory) |
Forestry |
|
Forest Management Plan |
91 days (13 weeks) (Statutory) |
Forestry |
|
Protected Species Licence |
30 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Species Licence |
|
European Protected Species - development, conservation projects and forestry |
40 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Species Licence |
|
European Protected Species - preserving public health or public safety. |
30 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Species Licence |
|
European Protected Species (Marine) |
40 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Species Licence |
|
Bird control licence - preserving public health or public safety, protecting fisheries, conserving wild birds, protecting crops, stock, foodstuffs for stock or preventing the spread of disease. |
40 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Species Licence |
|
Badger development licence |
40 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Species Licence |
|
Protected Species License amendment (simple) |
15 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Species Licence |
|
Protected Species License amendment (complex) |
30 working days(Service Level Agreement) |
Species Licence |
|
E.U Emissions Trading Scheme - New Entrants Reserve (Significant Capacity Extension) |
2 months |
UK Emissions Trading Scheme |
|
E.U Emissions Trading Scheme Allocation Level Changes Review |
4 Months |
UK Emissions Trading Scheme |
|
E.U Emissions Trading Scheme Annual Emmissions Monitoring Review |
4 Months |
UK Emissions Trading Scheme |
|
E.U Emissions Trading Scheme Variation Minor |
2 months |
UK Emissions Trading Scheme |
|
E.U Emissions Trading Scheme Variation Substantial |
2 months |
UK Emissions Trading Scheme |
|
E.U Emissions Trading Scheme Transfer |
2 months |
UK Emissions Trading Scheme |
|
E.U Emissions Trading Scheme Amalgamation Transfer |
2 months |
UK Emissions Trading Scheme |
|
E.U Emissions Trading Scheme Surrender |
2 months |
UK Emissions Trading Scheme |
|
E.U Emissions Trading Scheme Revocation |
2 months |
UK Emissions Trading Scheme |
|
E.U Emissions Trading Scheme Notification |
6 weeks |
UK Emissions Trading Scheme |
|
Water Resources Hydro Electric Power |
4 months if advertised, 3 months if not advertised (Statutory) |
Water Resources |
|
Water Resources Abstraction |
4 months if advertised, 3 months if not advertised (Statutory) |
Water Resources |
|
Water Resources Impoundment |
4 months if advertised, 3 months if not advertised (Statutory) |
Water Resources |
|
Water Resources Temporary Licence |
20 working days (Statutory) |
Water Resources |
|
Water Resources Transitional Licence (new authorisations) |
During the period 01 January 2020 and 31 December 2022 |
Water Resources |
|
Water Resources Revocation of Abstraction Licence |
20 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Water Resources |
|
Water Resources Revocation of Impoundment Licence |
20 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Water Resources |
|
Water Resources Administration Variation, including apportionments |
20 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Water Resources |
|
Transfer of Licence Holder and vesting a licence |
20 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Water Resources |
|
Water Resources Two-Part Tariff |
20 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Water Resources |
|
Water Resources Pre-Application (hydropower) |
45 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Water Resources |
|
Water Resources Pre-Application (non-Hydropower) |
45 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Water Resources |
|
Water Resources Groundwater Investigation Consent |
45 working days (Service Level Agreement) |
Water Resources |
|
Bespoke Landspreading (Sheep Dip) |
4 months (Statutory) |
Water Quality |
|
Landspreading (Sheep Dip) Variation |
4 months with advertisement 3 months without (Statutory) |
Water Quality |
|
Permit Surrender |
20 working days (Statutory) |
Water Quality |
|
Permit Transfer |
20 working days (Statutory) |
Water Quality |
|
Permit Variation |
4 months with advertisement 3 months without (Statutory) |
Water Quality |
|
Permit Variation Admin |
3 months (Statutory) |
Water Quality |
|
Permit Bespoke |
4 months (Statutory) |
Water Quality |
|
Water Industry Act 166a |
7 and 14 days (Statutory) |
Water Quality |
|
Water Industry Act 166b |
3 months (Statutory) |
Water Quality |
|
Standard Rule Permit |
3 months (Statutory) |
Water Quality |
|
Marine Licences Band 2 |
4 months (Service Level Agreement) |
Marine Licences |
|
Marine Licences Band 1 |
6 weeks (Service Level Agreement) |
Marine Licences |
|
Variation 1 (admin) |
21 days (Service Level Agreement) |
Marine Licences |
|
Variation 2 (complex) (B2) |
4 months (Service Level Agreement) |
Marine Licences |
|
Variation 3 (routine) |
8 weeks (Service Level Agreement) |
Marine Licences |
|
Transfer Variation |
21 days (Service Level Agreement) |
Marine Licences |
|
Sample Plan Request |
4 weeks (Service Level Agreement) |
Marine Licences |
|
Discharge of conditions - Band 2 |
6 weeks (Service Level Agreement) |
Marine Licences |
|
Monitoring approval |
8 weeks (Service Level Agreement) |
Marine Licences |
|
Screening Opinion |
90 days (Statutory) |
Marine Licences |
|
Scoping Opinion |
90 days (Service Level Agreement) |
Marine Licences |
|
Flood Risk Activity Permits |
2 months (statutory) |
Flood Risk Activities |
| Land Drainage Consents |
2 months (statutory) |
Internal Drainage District (IDD) regulation |