Draft Submission Plan (Regulation 19)
Waste Management Comment
437.The National Planning Policy for Waste (NPPW) remains a national policy statement which must be considered when preparing plans and determining proposals. The NPPW specifically says waste planning authorities should provide sufficient opportunities to meet identified waste management needs, drive waste management up the hierarchy, consider existing capacity and work collaboratively on cross-boundary requirements. Comment
438.The Council is an active participant in the West Midlands Waste Planning Advisory Group (formerly West Midlands Resource Technical Advisory Body), working collaboratively alongside other regional planning authorities to consider waste planning requirements in the context of the Duty to Cooperate. The work of this group is also expected to feed into the ongoing development of the West Midlands Mayoral SDS. It is within this context, and as noted in an earlier section, the Council is intending to bring forward a minerals and waste plan under the new plan-making arrangements. Comment
439.Notwithstanding, the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), situated off Coventry Road, Bickenhill is at capacity and in its current format is not suitable for enhancing the recycling of materials. The Waste Needs Assessment (prepared for the previous plan in 2020) highlights the fact that additional household waste recycling capacity will be required to meet the needs of the increased population and number of households in the Borough during the plan period. The additional growth pressures facing the Borough mean this need will only increase. Comment
440.In that respect, work is currently underway to identify the preferred option from an operational and deliverability perspective, to ensure the waste management needs of the Borough are met. This could be provided by an expansion of the existing HWRC, or by relocation to a larger site elsewhere in the Borough. Current work however is indicating the option to expand the existing centre is likely to be favoured. However, should this prove not to be the case then setting out an alternative, criteria-based approach to identifying a site is considered prudent. Comment
Policy SMBC/WM1: Waste Management Facilities Comment
- The Council will support the development of an efficient and sustainable network of waste management infrastructure which enables waste to be managed at the highest practicable level of the waste hierarchy, contributes towards a circular economy and provides sufficient capacity to meet identified waste management needs.
- Proposals for new waste management, recycling, recovery and processing facilities, or for the extension or intensification of existing facilities, will be supported where the following criteria are satisfied:
- The proposal contributes to an appropriate network of waste management facilities and, where relevant, addresses an identified need for additional or replacement waste management capacity;
- Facilitates the beneficial reuse, recycling or recovery of waste and, where appropriate, the production and use of secondary and recycled materials;
- The design and operation of the facility should incorporate appropriate climate change adaptation measures that minimise greenhouse gas emissions; maximise resource and energy efficiency and facilitate the recovery and beneficial use of materials. Where practicable opportunities to utilise any heat or energy generated on site should be incorporated into the development.
- Where a proposal is situated within the Green Belt, it will be considered in accordance with the policies of the NPPF. Particular regard will be given to the specific locational requirements of the proposed waste management activity; any existing onsite activity of a similar nature; and to whether a suitable alternative location outside the Green Belt is reasonably available.
- The location and scale of the development must be appropriate to the proposed waste management activity. Particular support will be given to proposals which make effective use of: existing waste management sites; previously developed land; and/or land or buildings within established employment or industrial areas where the proposed activity is compatible with neighbouring uses.
- There is safe and suitable access to the highway network and the volume, nature and routing of traffic generated can be satisfactorily accommodated without unacceptable effects on highway safety, congestion, residential amenity or the environment. This should have regard to operational hours and associated vehicle movements.
- The proposal must demonstrate that it would not result in unacceptable effects upon local communities, sensitive receptors or the environment, including from: noise and vibration; dust, fumes and other emissions to air; odour; litter; vermin, insects or birds; artificial lighting; visual intrusion; land contamination or instability; effects upon surface water or groundwater; and flood risk.
- The proposal must be capable of being satisfactorily integrated into its surroundings and must achieve a high standard of design appropriate to its context and function. This should include the appropriate consideration of landscape, ecology and heritage matters in accordance with the policies of this Local Plan, any respective Neighbourhood Plan and the NPPF.
- The proposal should demonstrate that aviation safety and the safe operation of Birmingham Airport would not be adversely affected.
- When considering the above points, the Council will have regard to the type and scale of the facility and the potential for impacts to occur throughout construction, operation and, where relevant, restoration.
- Opportunities to expand and modernise the existing HWRC at Bickenhill will be supported in principle. The detailed design of the new facility will be considered against the appropriate criteria set out in part 2 of this policy. The site is considered to already satisfy the location requirements of part 2D of this policy.
- Where the development is temporary, or where restoration will ultimately be required, proposals must provide for the timely restoration and appropriate after-use of the site to a high environmental standard. Where necessary, satisfactory arrangements for implementation, aftercare and long-term management will be secured by condition.
