Date:              19 September 2008
Embargo:       None

ESA Respond to Planning Review

The Killian Pretty Review on the process for seeking planning permission was jointly commissioned by Communities and Local Government and Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Departments. Joanna Killian is the Chief Executive of Essex County Council and David Pretty recently retired as Group Chief Executive of Barratt Developments PLC. The aim of the review has been to identify reasons for delay in deciding planning applications, and make recommendations.

ESA has submitted a written response to this review, emphasising how an effective and efficient planning process is a pre-requisite to achieving greater economic and environmental sustainability and to enable the UK to meet its legal duties resulting from EU waste law and that obtaining planning permission remains the single biggest barrier to the timely delivery of new waste management infrastructure.

ESA has argued that there is considerable merit in extending permitted development rights (PDRs) to minor, uncontroversial development on existing waste management sites which would release resources to focus on more substantial applications. ESA Members are often required to submit planning applications for minor alterations to existing facilities often in response to direction from the regulatory agencies. For example, the installation of spray masts may be required on an existing facility in response to changes to the Environment Agency’s permitting regime, or HM Revenue and Customs may request the installation of a weighbridge to ensure better data reporting for landfill tax purposes.

Developments ESA believes should benefit from PDRs share the characteristics of being uncontroversial, having no impact beyond the site boundary, as well as being likely to improve performance and even reduce any impacts. ESA has therefore argued that PDRs would therefore not erode the community’s confidence in the land-use planning process.

ENDS