Independent regulatory expertise — available UK-wideExpert water licensing and consulting
Our experienced licensing team works with the Environment Agency on your behalf — whether you're using Nicholls for drilling or another contractor. Available UK-wide.
Our services and solutions
From initial licence applications through to ongoing compliance, our team manages your relationship with the Environment Agency and other regulators.
Water Licensing
Full and pre-application EA abstraction licence applications for domestic and commercial clients. We manage the entire process from initial assessment to licence approval.
Learn more →Water Permits
Discharge permits, transfer licences, impoundment licences and flood risk activity permits. We handle the regulatory paperwork so you can focus on your project.
Learn more →Licence Compliance
Inspections, monitoring and regulatory compliance for existing licence holders. Ensure you remain compliant with EA conditions and avoid enforcement action.
Learn more →Water Consultancy
Independent expert advice on water resources, hydrogeology and regulatory strategy. Whether you use Nicholls for drilling or another contractor.
Learn more →Water Solutions & Testing
Private Water Supplies Regulations compliance, water quality testing, filtration systems, pump testing and private water supply assessments.
Learn more →Industrial Water
Sector-specific water management for manufacturing, food production, pharmaceutical, data centres and other industrial applications.
Learn more →Why choose Nicholls for licensing
Independent advice
We provide expert regulatory guidance whether you use Nicholls for drilling or any other contractor.
UK-wide coverage
Our licensing team works with EA offices across England and Wales, not just the South of England.
Experienced team
Dedicated licensing managers who work with the EA daily and understand their processes inside out.
End-to-end support
From pre-application discussions and hydrogeological assessments through to licence approval and ongoing compliance.
Integrated service
When combined with our drilling division, we offer a seamless process — licensing and construction managed under one roof.
Compliance protection
Proactive compliance monitoring to keep you on the right side of your licence conditions.
Licensing & compliance case studies
Projects where the Environment Agency licensing was central to the work — abstraction and discharge licences, water neutrality, water credits and reservoir consenting — all handled in-house by our Licensing & Consulting team.
Waterwell Borehole for a Private School in Surrey
Due to the required daily water usage, an Abstraction Licence was required from the Environment Agency. Our Nicholls Licensing and Consulting team undertook all aspects for the client.
435kW River Source Heat Pump for 86 Apartments, Norwich
Nicholls were approached to design, supply and install a GSHP system with boreholes for the client in Norwich. During the design phase, after completing a test borehole, it became clear that approx...
Water Borehole System to Achieve Water Neutrality
Nicholls Licensing & Consulting supported a developer in achieving planning consent by designing a water borehole system that achieved water neutrality for a 6-house residential development.
Planning Achieved Using Water Credits
Nicholls Licensing & Consulting supported a developer in achieving planning consent by developing a water credit strategy. In areas subject to water neutrality requirements, new developments must d...
Private Water Supply for 132 Homes near Poole, Dorset
Nicholls designed and installed a large-scale water borehole system to supply 132 new homes near Poole in Dorset. The project required an EA abstraction licence, which was handled by the Nicholls L...
Sustainable Heating & Cooling for the Runnymede Hotel
With the hotel being located directly on the River Thames, an open-loop river source heat pump was the ideal solution — providing both heating in winter and cooling in summer from the same system.
Our Projects
Many of our drilling and installation projects require EA licensing — explore the sites we've worked on across the UK.
4,000+ boreholes drilled across the UK
Our interactive project map loads when it's ready. In the meantime, here's where we've been working — across West Sussex (227 projects), Surrey (196), Hampshire (111), East Sussex (87), Kent (70) and across the wider South of England, including Wiltshire and Dorset.
Water boreholes · Ground source heat pumps · Deep bore soakaways · Over 1,500 completed projects since 2003.
Need licensing or regulatory support?
Call us on 01403 820750 or get in touch online. We're happy to discuss your project requirements.