What does HSE do?

HSE provides advice to planning authorities on proposed developments in the vicinity of major hazard sites or major hazard pipelines and has developed principles to enable it to provide a quick response to consultations.

These principles are based on the findings of the Advisory Committee on Major Hazards (ACMH) and include ‘mitigation’ of consequences (lessening the effects) of major accidents that may occur after a loss of ‘prevention’ and ‘control’.  The overall objective here is to ensure that the element of residual risk is taken into account in planning decisions, as recommended by ACMH. Residual risk is the irreducible minimum level of risk which remains after all legally required preventative measures have been taken at the major hazard. In the short term, significant developments for public occupation near to major hazards should be inhibited to avoid undesirable increases in numbers at risk. In the longer term, some reduction in the numbers at risk may be possible through the medium of strategic land use planning.

HSE also provides advice to hazardous substances authorities, usually the local planning authority, on applications from companies for hazardous substances consent.

Planning applications

HSE sets a consultation distance around a major hazard site or major hazard pipeline, within which the planning authority must consult HSE over relevant developments which are likely to lead to an increased population around the major hazard. HSE provides advice on applications for planning permission within these consultation distances through PADHI+ (Planning Advice for Development near Hazardous Installations). PADHI+ is an online system which allows planning authorities to input information from the planning application and obtain HSE’s advice directly.

Applications for hazardous substances consent

Sites which want to hold certain hazardous substances at or above defined limits must obtain hazardous substances consent from the hazardous substances authority (HSA).

The HSA must consult HSE on these applications. HSE will consider the hazards and risks which the hazardous substance may present to people in the surrounding area, and take account of existing and potential developments, in advising the HSA on whether or not consent should be granted.

PADHI+ cannot be used for consulting HSE on applications for hazardous substances consent. These must be referred to the local HSE office.

Large-scale petrol storage sites

Following the fire and explosions at the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot in 2005, HSE reviewed its policies for providing land use planning advice around large-scale petrol storage sites. After a consultation exercise, HSE introduced new arrangements for providing land use planning advice on developments around these sites in July 2008, which are set out in HSE circular SPC/Tech/Gen/38.