Waste sites could come under national planning commission

The inclusion of waste facilities is seen as unsurprising with the delays that beset many projects and research for the Barker team which found that waste collection facilities and landfill sites face the highest levels of public opposition.

The research released today found that 80% of the public would be strongly opposed towards a hypothetical waste development while power plants scored only 77% strong opposition. New supermarkets had corresponding figures of 50% and schools attracted only 10% opposition.

Kate Barker, whose review could have major implications for large scale waste facilities

Strategic objectives

Among a number of important recommendations made by the Review are that the statements, known as “Statements of Strategic Objectives” should be drawn up for energy, transport, waste proposals and strategic water proposals (such as new reservoirs). The Review indicates that that these should be given locations or areas where they might be built, using the term “spatially specific”. It states: “These should, where possible, be
spatially specific to give greater certainty and reduce the time taken at inquiry
discussing alternative sites. Regional Spatial Strategies and local plans should reflect
these national Statements and indicate, in particular, where regional facilities are needed.”

The report tries to put a balance between the need for new developments and local democracy. It explains that: “This Final Report sets out recommendations to ensure that the planning system better supports economic growth, while maintaining or enhancing delivery of wider objectives, including ensuring community involvement, supporting local democracy and protecting and enhancing the environment.”

National-scale infrastructure could be decided by an independent Planning Commission, suggests the Barker team with smaller waste applications handled at the local level. This Commission would consist of a panel of experts drawn from a range of professional fields and would be charged with assessing applications against a strategic framework alongside other considerations such as local and environmental impact. “By setting out a clear framework upfront for decision making through Statements of Strategic Objectives, democratic accountability is established.”

Criticial

The study notes that applications for waste management proposals – landfill, recycling, incineration and many other forms – are primarily determined by unitary authorities and in two-tier areas at the county level under Town and Country Planning legislation. “The majority of waste applications, some 1,198 in 2005-06,18 are relatively small-scale but there are a minority of proposals which, either because of their likely throughput or the specialist waste management need being addressed, are critical to the delivery of waste management needs identified nationally. A body other than the local authority could determine these proposals.”

Reference is made to the decision to grant planning permission to Cory's Riverside Resource Recovery's application for an energy from waste power station at Belvedere in southeast London. The team note that this was determined at a national level by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under the current legislation in the Electricity Act because of the scale of the electricity generation involved.

The Review's recommendation is that “applications for waste management facilities, the need for which has not been identified nationally, could remain with the local planning authority although this should be kept under review. Applications for energy from waste proposals, which are currently dealt with under the Electricity Act, could be referred to the Commission.”

Treasury

Treasury response
The Review will now be considered by the Treasury which said that “in the context of the increased competitive climate caused by globalization the Government is committed to further reform, to ensure that planning delivers the development that England needs.”