Agenda item

The report of the Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters and Planning.

This report recommends adoption by Full Council of the North London Waste Plan (NLWP). The NLWP has been subject to an Examination in Public by an independent Planning Inspector and has been found sound, subject to Main Modifications.

The Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters, and Planning introduced the report which recommended adoption by Full Council of the North London Waste Plan (NLWP). The NLWP had been subject to an Examination in Public by an independent Planning Inspector and had been found sound, subject to Main Modifications

It was commented that the development of the NLWP had been a long process with considerable community engagement that had resulted in a number of modifications. It was noted that three priority areas had been identified in the NLWP: Friern Barnet Sewage Works/ Pinkham Way, Brantwood Road, and North East Tottenham. It was clarified that the authority did not own these sites and it was noted that there were multiple site owners.

It was highlighted that paragraph 5.26 of the report contained a factual error in relation to the Pinkham Way site. It was clarified that Barnet Council had not put forward the site as suitable for waste management. It was noted that this position was reflected in Appendix C to the report which demonstrated that, due to issues of multiple ownership, only one small area of the site owned by the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) was likely to be deliverable for waste management. The Cabinet Member thanked the Pinkham Way Alliance for raising this issue.

The Cabinet Member also noted that the NLWP was last agreed by Cabinet in 2019. Following this, the independent Planning Inspector had examined the NLWP and had commented that it should demarcate more clearly where development could take place and that there should be additional arrangements for biodiversity. It was explained that these issues had been addresses in the NLWP and corresponding appendices. The Cabinet Member asked the Cabinet to agree to refer the NLWP to Council for approval.

In response to questions from the Cabinet and Cllr Isilar-Gosling, the following information was provided:

-       It was noted that the Brantwood Road site was situated close to a residential area. It was explained that, because of the restrictions on the residential road, any vehicles would have to access the site from the east and would not impact the residential road. It was added that this was a large site and that any waste facility was unlikely to fill the entire site; in addition, it would be recommended that any facility avoided close proximity to residential areas.

-       It was also noted, in relation to the Brantwood Road site, that nothing in the NLWP would preclude the provision of solar, wind, or other sustainable energy. It was highlighted that any proposals would be subject to pre-application engagement with the community and the usual planning policy requirements.  

-       It was noted that the NLWP identified sites but that there was no guarantee that facilities would be brought forward in all of the locations. It was added that the NLWP would be subject to ongoing monitoring.

-       If sites in the NLWP were brought forward, members noted the importance of ensuring that resident engagement and communications were delivered in an accessible format.

-       It was noted that only a small section of the Pinkham Way was considered to be suitable for a waste facility and it was enquired why the NLWP identified the whole site. It was explained that the NLWP had identified the whole site as the Council did not want to pre-empt the best design of the site. It was added that the site had some clear constraints that any proposal would need to manage, including flooding risk, biodiversity, land ownership, and proximity to residential areas.

-       It was clarified that the NLWP did not affect or consider whether the Edmonton incinerator would be progressed. It was explained that the NLWP concerned site planning for waste.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the content of this report and the Inspector’s Report on the North London Waste Plan (set out in Appendix A);

2.    To note the comments of Strategic Planning Committee as set out in the  addendum;

3.    To agree to refer this report and the appended documents to Full Council with the recommendation to adopt the North London Waste Plan (Appendix C) including Main Modifications (Appendix B) and associated changes to the Policies Map.

Reasons for decision

To enable the NLWP to progress to adoption at Full Council, and to ensure the North London Boroughs have a robust and up-to-date policy framework to ensure the sustainable management of waste arising in the area. Adoption of the plan will allow for waste planning proposals to be directed to the most appropriate locations in the area as well as providing detailed requirements for waste facilities to be assessed against through the planning application process. The Main Modifications include changes to the Plan arising as a direct result of community input into the plan-making process. Further, the NLWP will provide certainty and clarity for the community and other stakeholders on how such applications would be assessed.

Alternative options considered

The Council could decide not to adopt the North London Waste Plan. However, as a Waste Planning Authority the Council is under a statutory obligation to produce a Waste Local Plan. In addition, the National Waste Management Plan for England, supported by the National Planning Policy for Waste (NPPW), identifies that the National Waste Management Plan will be supported by each WPA’s Waste Local Plan and as such this document is of significant importance.

Any Waste Plan must be prepared in line with the requirements of the Planning

and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 and the NPPW. Given the NLWP has been found legally compliant and sound by the Planning Inspectorate, and has been through a robust process, not to proceed to adopt the NLWP would result in the Council needing to commence a Haringey only Waste Local Plan and would undermine the adopted NLWP for the other six partner Boroughs. This would not be in accordance with the Council’s commitments so far as part of its legal ‘duty to cooperate’ with other authorities as explained later in the report. This option has been rejected by officers as not being a reasonable alternative.

Any delay to the NLWP or any lack of having a Local Waste Plan will mean that planning applications may come forward in an ad hoc unplanned way and the Council will not have a robust and up-to-date policy framework for determining them against. It may be more difficult to shape, influence or refuse undesirable waste planning proposals or planning applications. Communities would have less certainty and clarity on how planning applications would be assessed and there would be less certainty for investment in the borough for sustainable development. There would also be a detrimental impact and delay to the Council’s emerging new Local Plan because there would be reduced certainty on waste priority areas and policies.