Draft planning framework misses a trick on waste

That is the message from the Environmental Services Association following the launch of a National Planning Policy Framework for consultation by planning minister Greg Clark.

The draft National Planning Policy Framework sets out the governments economic, environmental and social planning policies for England and provides a framework within which local people and councils can produce local and neighbourhood plans.

Importantly, it is underpinned by the concept of sustainable development. It requires that development is carried out in a sustainable way meaning that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The importance of sustainable development within the planning policy is hoped to benefit companies in the waste management sector, who have encountered many delays and costs in getting waste management facilities approved.

ESA

However, the Environmental Services Association (ESA) was quick to point out that there was little mention of waste infrastructure in todays draft document despite the industry needing to invest up to 20 billion in new waste facilities.

Matthew Farrow, ESAs director of policy, said: The emphasis in the draft NPPF on the presumption in favour of sustainable development and on local authorities responding to the development needs of business is welcome. The accent on local authorities being expected to work together is also valuable and reflects points made by ESA and others.

But the Government has missed a trick in choosing to leave out any meaningful reference to the role of waste management infrastructure and refer instead to the forthcoming National Waste Management Plan (NWMP).”

Mr Farrow added that while the NWMP would be an important document, the National Planning Policy Framework should make explicit reference to the role that waste management infrastructure had in meeting the governments goals and EU targets. He said it also needed to make crystal clear that despite the renewed focus on waste prevention there will be a need for a substantial increase in waste management facilities as our reliance on landfill reduces.

He said: We will be urging the Government to put this right in the final version of the Framework.

National Waste Management Plan

Defra has said it will be taking forward work to produce a National Waste Management Plan for England which will replace the Waste Strategy 2007 as the national waste management plan for these purposes. The plan is expected to be in place by Spring 2012.

Referring to this, the draft framework document states: This framework does not contain specific waste policies, since national waste planning policy will be published alongside the National Waste Management Plan for England. However, local authorities preparing waste plans should have regard to policies in this Framework.