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Informational only. Not legal advice. Not consultancy on which permit to apply for. The Environment Agency permit document remains the legal record.

Environmental permits in England are issued either under published standard rules — fixed templates for common low-risk activities — or as bespoke site-specific permits for operations that do not fit a standard rules set. On your permit document and on GOV.UK, each type is described differently. This note explains how to read those descriptions so you know which type you hold and what that means when you read conditions cited on a CAR. Source: GOV.UK — standard rules environmental permitting (OGL v3.0).

What standard rules permits are

GOV.UK describes standard rules (SR) as predefined permit templates published by the Environment Agency for common waste, water discharge, and installation activities. Each standard rules set has:

• A rule set number — e.g. SR2010 No 4, SR2012 No 3. This appears on the permit front sheet.
• Fixed conditions — the same numbered conditions apply to every site issued under that rule set. You cannot negotiate different wording for a standard rules permit.
• Published activity limits — waste types, tonnages, treatment methods, and infrastructure requirements are set in the rule set document on GOV.UK.

If your site operates exactly within a published standard rules set — same waste codes, tonnages, and layout — the EA issues a permit under that rule set. The permit document will state the rule set number on the front sheet or introductory notice.

What bespoke permits are

GOV.UK describes bespoke permits as site-specific environmental permits drafted for operations that do not fit a published standard rules set. A bespoke permit has:

• Site-specific conditions — drafted for your operation, receptors, and environmental risks.
• No standard rules reference — the front sheet will not cite an SR number; conditions are unique to your site.
• Schedules and tables tailored to the site — emission limits, waste types, monitoring, and improvement conditions written for your operation.

Bespoke permits are typically issued where activities exceed standard rules limits, involve additional waste codes, are near sensitive receptors, or use treatment processes not covered by a published rule set. This guide does not advise when to apply for bespoke — it explains how bespoke permits are described on published documents.

How to tell which type you hold

Open your consolidated permit from Public Register Online and check the front sheet:

• Standard rules permit — the document states a rule set reference such as "Environmental permit issued under Standard Rules set SR2010 No 4" or similar wording. Conditions match the published rule set on GOV.UK.
• Bespoke permit — no standard rules reference. The front sheet lists your site-specific permitted activities and bespoke condition numbering without citing an SR set.

Some sites hold permits that started as standard rules and were later varied to bespoke (or vice versa). The consolidated permit on the register shows the current version. See our guide to reading a permit for condition numbering and schedules.

Key differences as described on published materials

GOV.UK also publishes separate charging guidance for application and subsistence fees. Both permit types attract subsistence charges; compliance bands can affect subsistence multipliers (see can CAR scores increase fees).

Why permit type matters when reading a CAR

When a CAR cites a permit condition, the type of permit affects how you read it:

• Standard rules — the cited condition is a fixed template condition. You can cross-reference it with the published rule set on GOV.UK to see the exact wording and any linked schedules.
• Bespoke — the cited condition is site-specific. You read it in your consolidated permit only; there is no published template to compare against.

Either way, the CAR cites the condition reference from your permit. See linking CAR findings to permit conditions for how to locate cited conditions.

Standard rules sets on GOV.UK

GOV.UK publishes the full text of each standard rules set, including conditions, schedules, and activity limits. Common sets for waste operations include:

• SR2010 No 4 — mobile plant for land-spreading or treatment
• SR2010 No 11 — waste transfer station
• SR2012 No 3 — metal recycling/scrap yard
• SR2011 No 4 — on-farm anaerobic digestion

If your permit cites one of these rule sets, the conditions in your permit PDF should match the published GOV.UK document for that set. Any variation to the standard conditions will be recorded as a permit variation on the register.

What this guide does not cover

This is a literacy guide on reading published EA materials. It does not cover:

• Which permit type to apply for — that is consultancy or legal advice.
• How to draft or submit a permit application.
• Whether your activity fits a standard rules set — check GOV.UK or instruct a consultant.
• Enforcement, appeals, or how to challenge a CAR.

What CARBrief does with your permit

CARBrief reads both standard rules and bespoke permits. On the three products:

• Free CAR check (£0) — count of actions or non-compliances plus deadlines.
• Full CARBrief (£19.99) — CAR findings with cited condition references; does not extract permit wording.
• Permit + CAR Review (£49.99) — extracts the full text of cited conditions and schedules from your permit, cross-referenced to CAR findings.

We copy permit condition wording exactly as published. We do not advise which permit type to hold, whether conditions are breached, or how to vary your permit.

Related guides. How to read a permit · Linking CAR findings to permit conditions · What is a waste exemption? · How do I find my permit online? · All guides.

Order a CARBrief All guides

Informational guide only. Sources: GOV.UK — standard rules environmental permitting; GOV.UK — create a bespoke permit. Public sector information reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Last reviewed 9 September 2026. CARBrief is not the Environment Agency.