Guidance

Storing and dismantling small boats and barges: RPS 364

Published 4 March 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/storing-and-dismantling-small-boats-and-barges-rps-364/storing-and-dismantling-small-boats-and-barges-rps-364

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to:

  • have an environmental permit where one is required
  • comply with the conditions of your environmental permit

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with these legal requirements provided that:

  • your activity meets the description set out in this RPS

  • you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS

In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:

  • cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals

  • cause a nuisance through noise or odours

  • adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest

1. Activity this RPS applies to

This RPS applies to the storage and dismantling of small boats and barges.

2. Conditions you must comply with

You must:

  • only dismantle small boats and barges in a building or on an impermeable pavement with sealed drainage
  • only store any drained oil or fuels in a secure place within secondary containment
  • notify the Environment Agency by email at wastetreatment@environment-agency.gov.uk before using this RPS
  • keep records for 3 years from the date of the last use of the RPS to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the Environment Agency on request

You must not:

  • store or dismantle small boats and barges that contain asbestos
  • store more than 5 small boats and 1 barge at any one time
  • treat more than 100 tonnes of small boats and barges per year

3. Things to note 

A small boat is generally defined as a, usually open, watercraft under 20 to 30 feet in length, powered by oars, paddles, sails, or small motors.

This RPS relates to an activity that the Environment Agency considers is potentially suitable to be an exemption under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. A change in law would be required for this. 

4. When you must check back

The Environment Agency intends to review this RPS by 1 December 2028.

The Environment Agency can withdraw or amend this regulatory position before the review date if they consider it necessary. This includes where the activity that this RPS relates to has not changed.

You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the review date, to see if this RPS still applies.

This RPS remains in force until it is removed from GOV.UK or is otherwise identified as having been withdrawn.

You can subscribe to email updates about this RPS. These will tell you if the RPS has changed and when it has been withdrawn. Use the ‘Get emails about this page’ feature on the RPS publication page.

5. If you cannot comply with this RPS

If you operate under this RPS but can no longer comply with it, you must:

6. Contact the Environment Agency

If you have any questions about this RPS, email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk with RPS 364 in the subject.

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