Environmental Permitting: H5 site condition report - Proposals for updated guidance
Overview
The Environment Agency is responsible for regulating facilities that could harm the Environment, as set out in the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (EPR). Certain sites are required to produce a site condition report which describes and records the condition of the soil and groundwater at a regulated site at particular points in time. It will enable the permit holder to meet their legal requirements to prove they have protected soil and groundwater from their permitted activities and that their land is in a satisfactory state when they apply to surrender all or part of their permit.
Why your views matter
This consultation proposes a revision to the H5 site condition report guidance. We would like your views on these proposals. We will take account of the consultation responses and publish the consultation response together with the revised H5 site condition report guidance on GOV.UK.
Please see related documents section at the bottom of the page for EPR SCR template and Stage 1 to 3 assessment completed examples.
Responding to this consultation
This consultation will run from Monday 24th November until midnight on Sunday 4th January 2026. We will consider all responses received by the closing date before finalising our proposals to submit for approval by government.
Please submit your response using this online consultation tool, as it provides an easy and efficient way to respond. It will also help us to:
- gather all responses in one place
- summarise responses quickly and accurately
- reduce the cost of the consultation
If you do not wish to respond using the online tool, you can download the response form (using the relevant link in the 'related' section at the end of this page) and email the completed form using the subject header 'Environmental Permitting: H5 site condition report - Proposals for updated guidance' to conland@environment-agency.gov.uk.
You can also view the consultation document by clicking on the relevant link in the 'related' section at the end of this page.
Ask for a copy of the consultation document
Contact us if you would like a copy of the consultation document sent to you. You can do this by contacting our National Customer Contact Centre:
Email: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone: 03708 506 506
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Consultation principles
We’re running this consultation in line with the guidance set out in the government's consultation principles.
Please click on the ‘Online Consultation’ link below to answer the consultation questions.
Audiences
- All water abstractors
- Businesses
- Community groups
- Environment Agency colleagues
- Local councils
- Medium Combustion Plants
- Members of the public
- Members of the public
- Metal recycling trade associations and site operators
- Non-governmental organisations with an interest in environmental issues
- Operators
- Statutory organisations
- Trade associations and business
Interests
- Business and industry
- Environmental permitting
- Installation
- Permit pages
- Permits
- Waste
- Water quality
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