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Environment

Environment Agency scales back pre-application service but 'minimal impact' on pig and poultry units

21st Aug 2020 / By Alistair Driver

The Environment Agency has confirmed it is temporarily reducing its pre-application advice services for installation permit applications, although pig and poultry farms should be largely unaffected.

The agency said the service has been reduced to allow the National Permitting Service (NPS) to focus on the backlog of permit applications, which we highlighted in the Members Area (July 7 post).

This reduced service will run from August 1 until February 1, 2021, although the agency stressed that its pre-application advice services for other types of permit applications will not change.

NPS has maintained the support provided to intensive farmers at pre-app for ammonia screening, which the agency said should minimise the impact for the pig and poultry sector.

NPS has had to adjust its ways of working to ensure it continues to pick up intensive farmers requesting advice.

The pre-app pages on the EA website contain guidance for customers to follow to access the service - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-permit-pre-application-advice-form. There is a section on the reduced pre-app service, but it highlights that intensive farming ammonia screening is still available.