The Pollution Prevention and Control (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026
These Regulations increase the hourly rates used to calculate fees for environmental regulatory activities performed by the Secretary of State in Relation to the offshore oil and gas industry.
The instrument amends the rate for specialist officers from £210 to £256 and for non-specialist officers from £114 to £130 across several statutory frameworks, including those governing habitat conservation, offshore safety, and environmental impact assessments.
These changes apply to operators and entities subject to UK offshore licensing and environmental compliance monitoring in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Arguments For
The explanatory note states that the regulations are necessary to amend the fees charged for activities performed by the Secretary of State regarding environmental regulation of the offshore oil and gas industry.
The document implies a need to recover costs for regulatory work, as it increases the hourly rates for both specialist and non-specialist officers engaged in activities such as monitoring compliance, processing licenses, and issuing safety notices.
The instrument was drafted under powers conferred by several Acts including the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and the Energy Act 2008, suggesting a legal basis for cost-recovery through departmental fee adjustments.
Arguments Against
Affected industry stakeholders in the offshore oil and gas sector may object to the increased operational costs resulting from higher hourly rates for specialist (£210 to £256) and non-specialist (£114 to £130) officers.
Parties may question the absence of a full impact assessment, although the document asserts that no significant impact on the private, voluntary, or public sectors is foreseen.
Operators may express concern regarding the cumulative financial impact of rising regulatory fees across multiple existing environmental and safety frameworks.
Citation, commencement and extent
- —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Pollution Prevention and Control (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026.
(2) These Regulations come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.
(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This section establishes the official title of the regulations and specifies that they become legally effective one day after they are formally made.
It also clarifies that the legal reach of these regulations encompasses all four nations of the United Kingdom.
Amendments to the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001
- In the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001, in regulation 20A(2)—
(a) for ‘£210’ substitute ‘£256’; and
(b) for ‘£114’ substitute ‘£130’.
This provision increases the hourly rates used to calculate fees under the conservation of habitats framework for offshore petroleum.
It raises the rate for specialist work to £256 and non-specialist work to £130.
Amendments to the Offshore Petroleum Licensing (Offshore Safety Directive) Regulations 2015
- In the Offshore Petroleum Licensing (Offshore Safety Directive) Regulations 2015, in regulation 13A(2)—
(a) for ‘£210’ substitute ‘£256’; and
(b) for ‘£114’ substitute ‘£130’.
This section amends the fee structure for offshore licensing related to safety directives.
It requires that fees based on time spent by officers be calculated using the new, higher hourly rates.
Amendments to the Pollution Prevention and Control (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Other Provisions) Regulations 2015
- In the Pollution Prevention and Control (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Other Provisions) Regulations 2015, in regulation 7(1)—
(a) for ‘£210’ substitute ‘£256’; and
(b) for ‘£114’ substitute ‘£130’.
This provision updates the hourly rates for a broad range of regulatory activities, including those related to oil pollution preparedness, greenhouse gas regulations, and the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme.
The amendment ensures consistency in charging across these various environmental monitoring and licensing tasks.
Amendments to the Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Unloading and Storage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2020
- In the Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Unloading and Storage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2020, in regulation 22(2)—
(a) for ‘£210’ substitute ‘£256’; and
(b) for ‘£114’ substitute ‘£130’.
This section updates the fees specifically for work related to environmental impact assessments in the oil and gas sector.
It mandates that any hourly-based fees charged for these assessments must use the revised rates for specialist and non-specialist personnel.
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