PLANNING COMMITTEE AGENDA - Hartlepool Borough Council

UPDATE
1.8 The National Planning Policy Framework does not replace PPS10 which
therefore remains extant. PPS 10 Planning for Sustainable Waste Management
(2005) sets out the government’s policies in relation to waste management. PPS10
sets out a plan-led approach to the delivery of the waste management facilities.
There is considerable emphasis on the identification of sites and areas suitable for
waste management so as to secure confidence for industry and local communities in
the forward planning process and to deliver obligations arising from the Waste
Framework Directive.
1.9 It advises that “Positive planning has an important role in delivering sustainable
waste management:– through the development of appropriate strategies for growth,
regeneration and the prudent use of resources; and, – by providing sufficient
opportunities for new waste management facilities of the right type, in the right place
and at the right time.”(2)
1.10 In terms of design it advises “Waste management facilities in themselves
should be well-designed, so that they contribute positively to the character and
quality of the area in which they are located. Poor design is in itself undesirable,
undermines community acceptance of waste facilities and should be rejected.”
1.11 PPS10 makes clear that there should not be a duplication of control between
planning and licensing regimes. Planning authorities should work on the assumption
that the relevant pollution control regime will be properly applied and enforced. The
planning system operated by the Borough Council is therefore essentially
responsible for the control of land use, the pollution control system is concerned with
the processes and substances in order to control the risk of pollution and to public
health is operated by the Environment Agency through the environmental permit
(EA). The amounts and types of waste is a matter for the licensing authority. It is up
to the waste licensing regime to deal with the likely impact upon pollution or public
health. On that basis it is clear that the day to day management of the site in terms
of odours, noise, vermin, pests, dust controls and the control of waste streams rests
with the EA. The Environmental Health role of the Council is very limited in relation
to odours, noise etc and only then can be undertaken with the agreement of the
Secretary of State.
Local Policy
1.12 Policy WAS 4 of the adopted Hartlepool Local Plan (2006) deals primarily with
proposals for new landfill sites and states that proposals for landfill sites will only be
permitted where it has been demonstrated that they represent the best practicable
environmental option, there is a need in the regional context, there are no significant
adverse effects and satisfactory measures are in place to secure the restoration,
aftercare and after use of the site. Policy Was5 states that landraising will only be
permitted where the landform will reflect the scale and character of the surrounding
topography and after use will assimilate naturally into the landscape.
1.13 The site was taken into account in the recently adopted Tees Valley Joint
Minerals & Waste Core Strategy DPD (TVJM&WCSDPD) (2011) which sets out
policies for the strategic management of waste in the Tees Valley. In assessing
capacity for landfill the TVJM&WCSDPD states at 5.2.10 that there is sufficient
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