Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990

Control over presence of hazardous substances

4 Requirement of hazardous substances consent

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the presence of a hazardous substance on, over or under land requires the consent of the hazardous substances authority (in this Act referred to as “hazardous substances consent”).

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the aggregate quantity of the substance—

(a) on, over or under the land;

(b) on, over or under other land which is within 500 metres of it and controlled by the same person; or

(c) in or on a structure controlled by the same person any part of which is within 500 metres of it,

is less than the quantity prescribed as the controlled quantity for that substance.

(3) The temporary presence of a hazardous substance while it is being transported from one place to another is not to be taken into account unless it is unloaded.

(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that hazardous substances consent is not required or is only required—

(a) in relation to land of prescribed descriptions;

(b) by reason of the presence of hazardous substances in prescribed circumstances.

(5) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different cases or descriptions of cases.

5 Power to prescribe hazardous substances

(1) For the purposes of this Act the Secretary of State—

(a) shall by regulations specify—

(i) the substances that are hazardous substances; and

(ii) the quantity which is to be the controlled quantity of any such substance; and

(b) may by regulations provide that, except in such circumstances as may be prescribed, all hazardous substances falling within a group specified in the regulations are to be treated as a single substance.

(2) Regulations which—

(a) are made by virtue of subsection (1)(a)(i); or

(b) are made by virtue of subsection (1)(a)(ii) and reduce the controlled quantity of a substance,

may make such transitional provision as appears to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.

(3) The power to make such transitional provision includes, without prejudice to its generality, power to apply sections 11 and 26 subject to such modifications as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.

(4) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different cases or descriptions of cases.