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Infrastructure and Land-Use Planning
Overall Aim
The Scottish Executive and SEPA will continue to improve the planning system to encourage sustainable waste management.
There is some financial assistance supported by Government to develop recycling infrastructure. As well as occasional capital grant competitions (details of which can be found on the WRAP website), WRAP also provide a lease guarantee scheme, eQuip: http://www.wrap.org.uk/businesses/support_for_recycling_businesses/investment/equip.html. The Carbon Trust is also carrying out work on energy and waste management ( http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/commercial/enterprises/insource_energy.htm).
There are potential opportunities to utilise the value of residual waste. SEPA has commissioned a SNIFFER project to compare the relative benefits and shortcomings of thermal treatment and landfill. This study will provide options to the Executive to determine Scotland's future policy direction to ensure that we gain the maximum value from residual business waste and have the necessary treatment capacity.
Consultation responses identified that space for the segregation of waste is a barrier to recycling. The Executive will discuss with the Scottish Building Standards Agency ( SBSA) whether it is appropriate to address this for new build through conditions within Building Standards legislation. Planning Advice Note 63, on waste management planning, already provides advice on the provision of space for the separation of waste. In some cases, supplementary planning guidance on waste management has been produced at a local level (e.g. www.stirling.gov.uk/dan_waste_management.pdf).
The Executive has consulted on Scottish Planning Policy on Planning and Waste Management ( SPP 10), which will replace the current NPPG 10. The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 includes provision for a National Planning Framework which may designate major infrastructure projects as national developments. Designation in the National Planning Framework will be the mechanism for establishing the need for such developments. Any public inquiry relating to a project which has been designated as a national development will therefore focus on matters such as location, design, size and the mitigation of environmental effects rather than the question of need.
Both the Executive and SEPA are also continuing to monitor Local Plans to try and ensure that they accurately reflect the need for waste infrastructure. A research report in 2005 established the position of Scotland's Local Plan policies relative to delivering Area Waste Plan requirements ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/09/08121328/13289).
The Executive is reviewing the General Permitted Development Order and will consider whether any waste developments could be added to it. The Order covers permitted development rights for certain developments so that planning permission is not required for certain work, subject to specified criteria.
The consultation on SPP 10 outlined a number of points, including:
- SEPA is a statutory consultee on waste development proposals. SEPA has now finalised guidance on the issues they will consider when commenting on proposals, and the type of information required from developers in order to expedite their comments ( http://www.sepa.org.uk/nws/planning/consultee.htm).
- A proposed model policy on criteria for the location of waste management infrastructure, promoting industrial land.
- The role of SEPA's guidelines on thermal treatment of municipal waste.
- The use of site waste management plans and demolition protocols to minimise waste.
The analysis of responses on SPP 10 has been completed by consultants and is now being considered. A general comment from the business sector was that more emphasis should be given in SPP 10 to non-municipal waste.
SEPA has written to all local authorities advising them of the SEPA guidance detailing how they assess development plans. This guidance is publicly available on SEPA's website and highlights the type of issues which SEPA consider should be addressed by planning policies to promote sustainable waste management ( http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/nws/planning/links/commenting_devplans_final.pdf).
Envirowise promotes Site Waste Management Plans ( SWMPs). There are plans in England and Wales to make SWMPs mandatory from 2008. Primary legislation would be required to allow SWMPs to be made statutory in Scotland.
SEPA, in consultation with the Executive, has carried out national and local awareness raising events/work for local authority decision makers to highlight the role of the planning system in delivering sustainable waste management. SEPA intend to hold further events.
What is currently happening:
5.1 SEPA is undertaking a study in conjunction with SNIFFER on the tertiary 3 treatment of residual waste from business and industry, which is due by July 2007.
5.2 The Executive has commissioned a study into how waste planning applications have been dealt with across Scotland over the period 2002-2004. This is due to be completed by May 2007.
5.3 SEPA published guidance in December 2006 (on the web from January 2007) on what SEPA expects to be included in planning applications for its comment and has also published guidance on how SEPA assesses development plans.
5.4 Envirowise is promoting Site Waste Management Plans.
5.5 The Executive ensures that all relevant Executive and SEPA initiatives will take account of opportunities and issues associated with the sustainable management of waste from business.
What will happen:
5.6 The Executive will consider with the SBSA by end of March 2008 whether the Building Standards Regulations should lay anything down on the provision of dedicated waste segregation space within new commercial and industrial developments.
5.7 SEPA will promote through Waste Strategy Area Groups and engagement with Planning Authorities the need for supplementary planning guidance/policies to provide for recycling, segregation, composting of waste in new development e.g. similar to guidance produced by the Forth Valley local authorities.
5.8 The Executive will finalise SPP 10 in 2007.
5.9 The Executive will draw up the National Planning Framework by 2008.
5.10 The Executive and SEPA will object to any local authority development plans which fail to reflect adequately the need for waste infrastructure.
5.11 The Executive will consult on the General Permitted Development Order by 2008, considering whether any waste developments could be added to the Order.
5.12 Where SEPA is commenting on proposed developments it will promote site waste management plans. SEPA will liaise with other bodies to provide guidance on this when SPP 10 is finalised
5.13 SEPA, in consultation with the Executive, will consider running future seminars on waste planning issues for local authority officers and elected members and other interested parties during 2007/08.
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