Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Environment Agency has made of the adequacy of permits supplied to manufacturers in Stanlow.

There are two permits issued to manufacturers on the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex by the Environment Agency (EA): Argent Biodiesel LP3233DK and Essar Oil UK (Stanlow Manufacturing Complex) (FP3139FN). Both have permits under Environmental Permitting Regulations, determined and issued following due process.

For Argent, the most recent variation and consolidated permit was issued on 18 November 2024. For Essar, the most recent variation and consolidated permit was issued on 24 June 2025. In addition, there is a local authority regulated part B permit for Stanlow Terminals Limited for storage, unloading and loading petrol at road terminal.

A programme of inspection and audit by the EA’s local team checks compliance with permit conditions, including monitoring emissions to air, water and land, operating procedures reviewing reports, and verifying self-monitoring. If significant non-compliance is detected, then this is, and has been, addressed by follow-up inspection and appropriate enforcement response.