Making it requires even stricter permits than buying it!
Sourced from the HSE site
If you want to store or manufacture explosives you will need a licence or to register with your local licensing authority. This applies to a wide variety of substances and articles including:
blasting explosives
munitions
ammunition and shooters' powders
fireworks
marine flares
pyrotechnic articles
car airbags and seatbelt pretensioners
party poppers
Storage
There are a number of exemptions for the storage of small quantities and for temporary storage. For example there are allowances for storage of shooters' powders and for certain lower-risk pyrotechnic articles which include consumer fireworks and articles such as flares, fog signals, car airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners.
Licences and registrations
Registration is a simplified process designed for those wanting to store smaller quantities of explosive - for example most registrations are for shops selling fireworks during the firework season. You can store up to 250kg of the least hazardous types of firework - for more hazardous explosives (including more hazardous fireworks) the amount you can keep with a registration is reduced. For more information please follow this link. Please note that all quantities referred to are the net mass (weight) of explosive contained in the article - not the gross weight of the article itself.
Manufacture
A licence is required for most manufacturing activities. 'Manufacturing' includes processes where explosive articles or explosive substances are made or assembled, or unmade or disassembled. The term also includes the repair or modification of explosive articles and the reprocessing, modification or adaptation of explosive substances. It does not include packing, unpacking, repacking, labelling or testing explosives. Nor does it include dividing explosives into smaller storage containers.
Anyone wishing to manufacture explosives will need to apply to HSE for a licence. There are some exemptions to this such as exemptions for fusing of firework displays. For more information please click on the link.
Where to apply
This will depend on the quantity and type of explosive you want to store and where you live.
If you wish to store two tonnes or more of explosive you will need a licence from HSE.
If you wish to store up to two tonnes of an explosive that requires an explosives certificate (eg blasting explosive or black powder) you will need a licence or registration from your local police.
If you live in the metropolitan counties, ie West Midlands, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Tyne and Wear, or South, and West Yorkshire you will need to apply to the fire and rescue service.
In other areas you will normally need to contact the trading standards department of your local authority.
How to make an application
The first step is to contact the licensing authority. They will be happy to proxide an application form, alternatively you can download a form from the HSE web site
The amount of information needed for the application will depend on the type of registration or licence. For most licences the licensing authority will need to know:
the name of the applicant;
nature of the business;
where you plan to keep the explosives;
the type(s) and quantities of explosives to be kept
More extensive information will be required for applications to HSE for a licence for manufacturing or a larger store, where the licence will be subject to local authority assent.
Fees for applications
A fee will be payable before the licensing authority will consider an application. Information on current fee levels can be found on the fees page.
There are as already stated other permissions required to transport blackpowder.
Recently storage rules have changed too - you now need a case of an approved design to hold even small quantities.
If you want to see how dangerous this stuff is, visit a blackpowder shooting club! A couple of spoonfulls will send up a huge cloud of smoke, make a fierce bang and send a heavy lead projectile and hundreds of feet per scond. Then witness the cae used to clean the pan etc.
No-one messes with BP - not twice anyway -
that form of curiosity is what killed the cat 
Red
very funny
