The Environment Agency is proposing to raise charges for some of its services by 11.5%.
In a consultation, launched in mid-April, it seeks views on proposed increases for annual subsistence charges for installations, including intensive pigs and poultry.
The agency said its charges have remained the same since the current charges were introduced in April 2018. It said the increase has been proposed in order to recover costs, mainly for staff costs and digital transformation.
What the increases mean
There are difference charges for Red Tractor-assured producers and non-assured producers, as inspections can be combined:
- For farms not in the assurance scheme, the annual fee would increase by £274 to £2660.
- For Farms in the assurance scheme – the annual fee would increase by £166 to £1610.
- The differential for being a member of the assurance scheme is currently £942 – this differential is proposed to increase by £108 to £1050.
Permit application costs are not being included in this consultation, but there is a separate project looking at these charges.
The consultation states that, from April 2026 there will be an annual inflationary increase. Annual billing has been delayed until the consultation responses have been considered, but the plan is for it to happen in July 2025. These bills will then be at the proposed new rates and will date from April 1, 2025.
The consultation
- You can view and respond to the consultation HERE
- The six-week consultation commenced on April 16 and will close on May 28.
- There is just one question in the consultation and that’s whether consultees agree or disagree with the proposed increase, and an opportunity to say why.