You need a licence to drill a borehole, provided the work: 

  • lasts less than twelve months
  • costs less than £1 million
  • happens in the area we licence

The marine area we license

We licence activities:

  • in the Welsh sea - such as a marker buoy or a pontoon 
  • over the Welsh sea - something above or over-hanging the sea such as a bridge or cantilever
  • under the Welsh sea - the ground under the sea and anything resting on it such as a wreck

The 'Welsh sea' reaches from average high tide (called 'mean high water springs') to the Welsh territorial limit. 

What we charge

This type of licence is called a band 1 licence. Applying for it costs £600. We will send you a request to pay when we receive your application.

When to apply

Submit your band 1 application at least two months before you want to begin the work.

We will make a decision within 6 weeks of receiving a complete application and the fee.

How to apply

Find out what information you need to prepare to submit an application to us.

Other permissions you might need from us

As well as applying for a band 1 marine licence, you might need other permissions from us, including:

These must be in place before you begin the work. 

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