Request an ammonia screening assessment
Use these forms to request an ammonia screening assessment as part of an intensive farming permit application.
Applies to England
When you need an ammonia screening assessment
You must request an ammonia screening assessment from the Environment Agency before:
- applying for a new intensive farming permit
- applying to change (vary) an existing permit that may affect ammonia emissions
You’ll need to complete both:
- the relevant ammonia screening assessment data spreadsheet forms
- an online ammonia screening assessment request form
You do not need to complete an ammonia screening assessment if you are:
- varying your intensive farming permit in a way that will not affect ammonia emissions from the site
- transferring or surrendering your permit
The Environment Agency will return your permit application if you do not have a completed ammonia screening assessment when you must have one.
There is no charge for this service.
Check you comply with BAT conclusions
Before requesting your ammonia screening assessment, check you can comply with the requirements of the Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document (BREF) for the Intensive Rearing of Poultry or Pigs (IRPP). This document sets out the standards that permitted farms must meet and the BAT associated emissions levels (AELs).
You will need to:
- confirm in your proposals that all livestock housing meets BAT
- demonstrate the new housing (new plant) will meet the BAT-AELs for ammonia emissions and nitrogen and phosphorus excretion, where applicable
- review the ‘BAT-AELs’ sheet in the data spreadsheet forms for a comparison of current ammonia emission factors against the BAT-AELs
- submit information with your application to confirm the proposed housing systems will meet the relevant ammonia BAT-AELs
Ammonia screening assessment data forms
How to complete the data forms
You must download and complete the relevant data spreadsheet forms with:
- a breakdown of livestock numbers by type and by housing (for example, number of sows, growers and finishers on fully slatted floorings and partly slatted flooring)
- ventilation system type (fan or natural)
- ventilation location (roof or side mounted)
- height of roof vents and the fan airflow speed in metres per second (if fans are roof mounted)
- amount of manure stored on your farm at any one time, in tonnes
- surface area (in square metres) of slurry storage facilities on your site, including lagoons
- type of cover used on slurry storage (if present)
- the most appropriate ammonia emission factors for the livestock and housing type
For more detailed instructions on how to use the form, see the first sheet in the downloaded form: ‘How to use this form’.
Download the data forms
Download the relevant data spreadsheet forms:
Submit the data forms
You must save the completed spreadsheet form and upload it when you submit the online ammonia screening request form.
Request an ammonia screening assessment
You’ll be asked to provide:
- farm name, address and Ordnance Survey grid reference
- a site plan (for new applications or variations that include changes to the site layout) – this should include the locations of all livestock housing, manure and slurry storage and the installation boundary in relation to local features such as a named roads or buildings
- a description of your proposal (or proposed changes if you are varying your permit) – for all farms or units, describe BAT conclusions compliance and any changes to livestock numbers and types, manure storage, installation infrastructure and the installation boundary
- relevant site history – for example if an ammonia screening has been completed within the last 6 months, if you have a site of high public interest, or if there have been previous emissions issues associated with the farm
- ammonia screening assessment data spreadsheet form (or forms)
- a permit or pre-application reference number
To request a free ammonia screening assessment from the Environment Agency, use the online request form.
After you submit your request
After you submit the form, you will receive an email confirming that the Environment Agency has received your request.
After the Environment Agency completes your ammonia screening assessment request, they will tell you if you need to produce a detailed modelling assessment of ammonia emissions to support your application.
For guidance on ammonia emissions factors and detailed modelling, see Intensive farming risk assessment for your environmental permit.
You must submit your intensive farming permit application within 6 months of your ammonia screening assessment to make sure the data remains current.
Get help with the forms
If you cannot use or access the form you need, contact the Environment Agency.
General enquiries
National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY
Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone 03708 506 506
Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.