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
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 spreadsheet forms
How to complete the data spreadsheet 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 (in metres) (if fans are roof mounted)
- building height (in metres) (if fans are side mounted or buildings are naturally ventilated)
- number of fans, fan diameter (in metres) and fan flowrate (in metres per second) (if fans are roof mounted)
- floor area (in square metres) for each livestock building
- grid co-ordinates for centre of each livestock building
- grid co-ordinates for centre of each slurry store or lagoon or manure store
- maximum amount of manure stored on your farm at any one time, in tonnes
- surface area (in square metres) of slurry
- surface area (in square meters) and tonnes of manure 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, housing type, and slurry or manure storage (or both)
For more detailed instructions on how to use the form, see the first sheet in the downloaded data spreadsheet form: ‘How to use this form’.
If any of the required information is unknown at the pre-application stage, contact the Environment Agency for advice.
Download the data forms
Download the relevant data spreadsheet forms:
If you cannot use or access the form you need, contact the Environment Agency.
Submit the data spreadsheet forms
You must save the completed data spreadsheet form and upload it when you submit the online ammonia screening assessment request form.
Request an ammonia screening assessment
What you need to provide
You’ll be asked to provide:
- farm name, address and Ordnance Survey grid reference
- ammonia screening assessment data spreadsheet form (or forms)
- a permit or pre-application reference number
You’ll need to provide a site plan (or plans) for new applications or variations that include changes to the site layout. This should include:
- the locations and grid co-ordinates of all livestock housing, manure and slurry storage – referenced in line with your data spreadsheet form, or forms
- the installation boundary in relation to local features such as a named roads or buildings
You’ll need to provide a description of your proposal. If you are varying your permit, describe the proposed changes. For all farms or units, describe BAT conclusions compliance and any changes to:
- livestock numbers and types
- slurry or manure storage
- installation infrastructure
- the installation boundary
You’ll need to provide any 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
- if there have been previous emissions issues associated with the farm
Use the online request form
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 online ammonia screening assessment request 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.