By
Richard Johnstone | 14 December 2011
Ambiguities in the government’s draft infrastructure plan could cause costly delays in toxic waste treatment projects, MPs have warned.
The environment, food and rural affairs select committee says that the lack of clarity in the draft National Policy Statement for Hazardous Waste could inhibit the development of the specialist plants, which are needed to deal with items such as asbestos and electrical equipment.More of these plants are needed as the European Commission takes an increasingly precautionary approach to classifying hazardous waste.
In a report on the draft NPS, which sets out policy for planners, the committee says: ‘Much of the evidence we received highlighted areas where the draft NPS is ambiguous or unclear and requires amendment if unnecessary and costly delays in the planning process are to be avoided.’ It highlights concerns over how developers could prove the necessary economic benefit of developments and inconsistent terminology.
The MPs also call for ‘every effort’ to be made to give local communities the opportunity to influence the design and construction of any waste plants.
National statements are intended to set out government policy on major developments, which are used by the Infrastructure Planning Commission when deciding whether to grant planning approval.
However, the statements create ‘an inherent tension’ with the government’s localism plans, the MPs say.
Once an NPS is approved, the need for the national infrastructure backed by the plan cannot be challenged. This means that ‘approval of nationally significant hazardous waste infrastructure projects could be granted in the face of local opposition’.
The report adds: ‘Whilst this may be unavoidable if the national interest in the development of new infrastructure is to be met, we believe that every effort must be made to provide local communities with the opportunity to influence the design and construction of the proposed development in order to minimise the impacts on them.’
Developers planning such infrastructure should be required by the NPS to invite local communities to propose specific mitigation measures, rather than this simply being guidance.
Launching the report, committee chair Anne McIntosh said: ‘Planners will rely on this policy statement to determine applications, but at present it contains ambiguities which could lead to lengthy and expensive legal argument. There is a real risk that if this NPS is not amended it will actually discourage developers from investing in the infrastructure that we need.’
