Petroleum storage

We are the Petroleum Enforcing Authority (PEA) and have a responsibility to ensure that anyone dispensing petrol or storing it in significant amounts does so with a high level of regard for public safety and protection of the environment. In particular, businesses operating filling stations are required to comply with the Dangerous Substances and Explosives Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR).

Petrol filling stations

For many years in the UK, petroleum storage at filling stations (including private dispensing) has required a licence issued by the relevant local authority. Licensing was replaced in 2014 by a scheme based on Petroleum Storage Certificates (PSCs) issued under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 (PCRs).

Visit the Legislation website to view the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 (PCRs)

When an existing licence expires it will be replaced by a PSC. These are specific to the premises where petrol is stored and dispensed. PSCs do not have an expiry date and remain in force until certain (notifiable) changes to the storage arrangements take place or until the site stops operating for more than 12 months.

There is a fee payable to the PEA by the person or business carrying out the dispensing activity at the site (referred to as the ‘keeper’). The keeper must pay an annual fee based on the maximum quantity of petrol stored at the site. The keeper can choose to pay for up to 10 years in advance.

Domestic and non-workplace storage

Provided that it is kept in a suitable place (See Schedule 2 of the PCRs for information about suitable storage), up to 30 litres of petrol may be stored in suitable portable containers or a single demountable fuel tank.

A person keeping over 30 litres but less than 275 litres must notify the PEA in writing with the name of the occupier, address of the premises and confirmation that the petrol is stored in accordance with regulations. See Schedule 2 of the PCRs for information about suitable storage.

The Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 retain a licensing regime for domestic and non-workplace petrol storage where it is kept for private use only. A person keeping in excess of 275 litres will require a licence. The PEA may issue and renew these for up to 3 years. They are issued to the licensee personally and are not transferable.

Please note: further to the above the site may need a permit to store carry out the activity of the unloading of petrol into stationary storage tanks and filling of vehicle petrol tanks activity as defined under Schedule 1, part 2, Section 1.2, Part B of The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

Further guidance

The Health and Safety Executive is the government agency with national responsibility for overseeing compliance with DSEAR.

Visit the Health and Safety Executive website for additional information about petroleum storage

If you need to make an enquiry about PSCs or storing petroleum in Telford, please email complete our online form:

Petroleum Enquiry

Trade associations

• Visit the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) website.
• Visit the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) website.
• Visit the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration (APEA) website.

Last updated : 9 August 2024

You must be aged 18 or over.

Applications for grant or renewal must be submitted together with the appropriate fee.

A copy of a plan (scale 1:100) of the premises (including the location of the petroleum tanks, lines, pumps and drainage including interceptors), together with a description of the safety arrangements in place for the safe delivery, storage and dispensing of petrol, should be submitted to us prior to any building or refurbishment work taking place. Additional testing and manufacturing documentation will also be required prior to the application being considered.

You are advised to contact the Council as early as possible for further guidance.

We will consider the application before issuing, renewing, modifying or transferring a Petroleum Storage Certificate. Once a Certificate is issued, a copy of any conditions applicable to your licence will be sent to you with your licence.

How long will it take to process my application?

We will consider the application before issuing, renewing or modifying or a certificate.

We may have to conduct site visits and require the production of other documentation to ensure that storage requirements are being met.

Once we have received your application together with the correct fee and any necessary documentation and we are satisfied that the premises meet storage requirements, we will agree to issue, renew or modify the certificate.

We aim to process your application as soon as possible.

There is no statutory period for determining applications, however, we aim to determine applications within 28 days.

If I do not hear from you for 28 days, can I assume it has been granted (tacit consent)?

No, tacit consent will not apply. This is because it is in the public interest that we must process your application before it can be granted.

If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact the team add a rollover Food@telford.gov.uk.

Will you need to inspect my premises?

In order to ensure that the petroleum is being or will be stored safely and does not present a risk to the public or the environment, we may deem it necessary to inspect the premise before the Petroleum Storage Certificate is issued, renewed, amended or transferred.

If my application is refused, how do I appeal?

If your application is refused, contact the team add a rollover Food@telford.gov.uk and we will discuss your application with you.

If you are refused a licence by the council you can appeal to the secretary of state under Section 44 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

How do I transfer a certificate or notify you that may affect my certificate?

How can I transfer a certificate to another person once it has been issued?

The petroleum storage certificate now remains with the dispensing premises. A new individual who takes over a certificated site must notify the council as petroleum enforcement authority before keeping petrol on the premises.

The notification must be made in writing and must include:

• the individual's name and address
• the address of the dispensing premises
• the date on which the individual proposes to commence occupation of the premises.

This notification must be given a maximum of 6 months and a minimum of 28 days before the day on which the individual proposes to keep petrol on the dispensing premises.

Who do I tell about a change that could affect my certificate?

If circumstances change regarding:

• the change of or cessation of use of one or more petrol storage tanks
• the removal or permanent decommissioning of one or more petrol storage tanks
• the installation of any tank, pipework or vapour pipework associated with the storage and dispensing of petrol
• the installation of any petrol pump, any other automotive pump or dispenser in a new location.

We will need to approve these material alterations prior to their implementation. You will need to formally notify us at least 28 days before commencement of any works to affect the change.

For any such material change, a new certificate will have to be issued.

Please contact the team add a rollover food@telford.gov.uk.

There is no fee associated with this.

What we will do with your Personal Information

Telford & Wrekin Council Health Protection Team are collecting your personal data to enable public protection as required by statutory function under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and regulations made thereunder.

Telford & Wrekin Council will not share any of your personal data collected with external organisations unless required to do so by law. However, there may be occasions where we request further information from key third party organisations including, but not limited to Shropshire Fire and Rescue, West Mercia Police or other similar regulators.

View the Council's privacy notice for more on the privacy arrangement.

Please use our online forms.

Last updated : 29 August 2024