United Kingdom · guide · 21 September 2026
What does C1 mean on a Compliance Assessment Report?
C1 is risk category 1 under the Compliance Classification Scheme (CCS). It appears on a Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) when the Environment Agency records a breach of a permit condition that could have a major impact on human health, quality of life or the environment if not addressed. Source: EA assessing and scoring guidance (OGL v3.0).
Free CAR check · £19.99 Full CARBrief · £49.99 Permit + CAR Review — sourced reading only; not EA advocacy or permit drafting.
What C1 means
Category 1 — 60 points — associated with a major impact on human health, quality of life or the environment.
The score reflects the reasonably foreseeable impact if the issue is not addressed (except for amenity conditions such as odour, dust, noise, or pests, which are scored on actual impact).
C1 sits above C2 (significant impact, 31 points) on the severity ladder. See our CCS scores guide for all four categories.
Examples of C1 breaches
Typical C1 findings described in EA guidance include breaches where the foreseeable impact is major rather than significant or minor, such as:
- Significant pollution incidents or releases with a foreseeable risk of serious environmental harm.
- Major containment or infrastructure failures where liquid, gas, or waste escape is reasonably foreseeable.
- Serious amenity impacts from odour, dust, noise, or pests where actual impact has been substantiated on site.
- Management system or operational failures that could lead to major environmental harm if not corrected promptly.
- Failure to meet a permit requirement where the breach has or could have a major operational or environmental consequence.
The EA officer determines the category based on published criteria. This guide does not advise whether a specific finding should be C1 or another category.
Reading a C1 line on the form
A typical non-compliance row prints the permit condition reference, a short description, Category 1 (or C1), and 60 points. Illustrative pattern only:
- CAR states: "Condition 3.1 — uncontrolled discharge to surface water, foreseeable major pollution — Category 1 — 60 points — cease activity and submit remediation plan by [date]".
- You locate Condition 3.1 in the permit: read the full wording and any cross-referenced schedules (see linking CAR findings to permit conditions).
- You can now see: what requirement was not met, the severity the EA assigned, and what action and deadline apply.
CARBrief quotes the category and points exactly as printed. We do not re-score or invent findings.
How C1 scores accumulate
A single C1 non-compliance adds 60 points to your site's year-to-date CCS score. If the same CAR records several findings under one permit condition, they are usually consolidated into one score for that condition — so you may see multiple findings but only one C1 score per condition on the summary.
Scores accumulate over the calendar year. At year end, your total determines your compliance band (A to F). See our CCS scores guide for the full band thresholds.
Will C1 increase my permit fees?
Compliance bands affect subsistence charges. Band D begins at 30.1 points and band E at 60.1 points. A single C1 score (60 points) alone places a site at the top of band D or into band E, depending on rounding and any other scores that year. Multiple C1 scores or a mix with other categories can push the year-end total further. See our fees guide for how bands affect charges.
What to do after receiving a C1 score
The CAR will explain what action is required and by when. You should address the issue by the stated deadline. The EA may request evidence that the breach has been corrected, either at a follow-up inspection or by submitting photographs, records, or written confirmation. See CAR response deadlines and what evidence to keep for reading literacy on follow-up.
The CAR may also state that enforcement is being considered. A C1 score does not, by itself, mean an enforcement notice has been issued — but it is the highest standard category on the CCS ladder for most permit conditions. See enforcement notice vs CAR for how those documents differ on the public register.
This guide does not advise how to remedy a breach, whether to challenge the category, or how to respond to enforcement. That is legal or consultancy advice, which we do not provide.
What CARBrief does with C1 scores
We extract the C1 findings from the CAR, link them to the relevant permit conditions, and include them in your year-to-date CCS total and band projection. We do not re-score the EA's assessment.
On the three products:
- Free CAR check (£0) — count of actions or non-compliances plus deadlines.
- Full CARBrief (£19.99) — findings with cited condition references, severity as printed, deadlines, checklist.
- Permit + CAR Review (£49.99) — extracts cited permit conditions cross-referenced to CAR findings.
Common questions
What does C1 mean on a CAR?
C1 is risk category 1 under the Compliance Classification Scheme. It is assigned to breaches that could have a major impact on human health, quality of life or the environment if not addressed. A C1 non-compliance scores 60 points.
How many points does C1 add to my CCS score?
A single C1 non-compliance adds 60 points to your site's year-to-date CCS score. If several findings are recorded under one permit condition, they may be consolidated into a single C1 score for that condition.
How does C1 compare to C2?
C2 is category 2 (significant impact, 31 points). C1 is more severe — major impact, 60 points. The EA assigns the category based on published criteria; CARBrief quotes what is printed on your CAR.
Will a C1 score affect my permit fees?
CCS scores accumulate over the calendar year. At year end, your total score determines your compliance band (A to F). Bands C and above can increase subsistence charges for the following year.
Informational guide only. Sources: EA assessing and scoring guidance. Public sector information reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Last reviewed 21 September 2026. CARBrief is not the Environment Agency.