Municipality Hulst: Environment and planning permit for environmentally harmful activities
Businesses that place a heavy burden on the environment require a permit under the Dutch Environment and Planning Act. You may require this if, for instance, your business:
- consumes an ample amount of energy
- pollutes the air
- causes noise nuisance
- causes odour nuisance
Some businesses are not subject to a permit and notification requirement. This includes, for instance, offices, various healthcare institutions, general medical practices, and playgroups.
Sometimes, you apply for a permit or file a notification with the province. This usually regards larger businesses, e.g. chemical plants. Would you like to receive more information about this? Then contact the province.
The permit under the Dutch Environment and Planning Act may have adverse consequences for nature. Namely, the conservation of protected areas, flora and fauna species may be jeopardised. Clearly indicate this in the application. You then have the following choice:
- You apply for a permit or exemption under the Dutch Nature Conservation Act. The province only assesses the impacts on nature. The province can impose special requirements, e.g. ecological supervision. You then apply for a permit under the Dutch Environment and Planning Act with the municipality. The municipality does, as the occasion arises, not asses the impacts on nature.
- You apply for a permit under the Dutch Environment and Planning Act. In this respect, you also request the performance of a nature check. This implies that the municipality also assesses the impacts on nature. To this end, the municipality requests the province for a declaration of no objection (VVGB). The municipality includes the VVGB in the decision on your application. Does the province refuse to issue the VVGB? Then the municipality rejects your permit application.
The condition for the application of a permit under the Dutch Environment and Planning Act is that your business places a heavy burden on the environment. For example:
- sewage treatment plants with a sludge treatment plant
- car breaker’s yards that also break lorries
- agricultural businesses that use a propane tank
The Regional Implementing Agency Zeeland(RUD) provides for the handling of environment related matters on behalf of the municipality of Hulst. You consult with the Regional Implementing Agency Zeeland (RUD Zeeland) where your business is established. You apply for the permit under the Dutch Environment and Planning Act with the Online Service Counter for Environmental and Planning Permits (OLO). You can perform the permit check at the Service Counter. You then know immediately whether you require a permit or whether you need to file a notification.
The costs depend on which permit you apply for. You must pay even if you do not get the permit.
The municipality will need 8 weeks (standard procedure) to assess your application. Sometimes it can take 26 weeks (extended procedure), for example if you want to deviate from the zoning plan. The municipality can extend the period once by 6 weeks.
If you want to object, the following applies.
- For a standard all-in-one permit for physical aspects (8 weeks), you must file an objection within 6 weeks after the decision is published. How to do this is stated in the published decision.
- Does it concern an extended all-in-one permit for physical aspects (26 weeks)? Then it is issued as a draft decision. You can submit your opinion within 6 weeks. After that, a final decision will be made.You can appeal to the district court within 6 weeks. .