Adopted South London Waste Plan 2022-2037

Adopted South London Waste Plan

The South London Waste Plan 2022 to 2037 was adopted by the council on 13 December 2022 and now carries full weight in the consideration of planning applications. It was jointly prepared along with the London Boroughs of Croydon, Merton and Sutton and fully supersedes the 2012 version of the waste plan

Inspectors’ Report

The Councils received the Inspectors’ Report, following the Examination of the draft South London Waste Plan, on 21 November 2022.

The Inspectors’ Report concluded that the Draft South London Waste Plan provides an appropriate basis for waste planning across the four boroughs, provided that a number of main modifications are made to it.  The main modifications were subject to public consultation over a seven-week period in July and September 2022 and the Inspectors have recommended their inclusion in the Plan after considering all the representations made in response to the consultation on them.  

Background

In 2012, the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, along with the three London boroughs of Croydon, Merton and Sutton adopted the South London Waste Plan (Development Plan Document) 2011-2021 which allocated sites, created planning policies and designated areas for waste management development. The plan also safeguarded existing waste sites and identified areas which may be suitable for waste use.

The four South London Boroughs of Croydon, Merton, Kingston and Sutton have again agreed to prepare a new South London Waste Plan. The draft waste plan sets out the long-term vision, spatial strategy and planning policies for the sustainable management of waste over the next 15 year period for the London Boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton.

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires local planning authorities to engage and involve the local community and other interested parties in the area in the production of development plan documents, including waste plans.

The first public consultation (Issues and Preferred Options) took place between October and December 2019.

The second public consultation (Submission Version) took place between 4 September and 22 October 2020.

Since January 2021, the South London Waste Plan, jointly prepared with Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton, has been under examination by two Government-appointed Planning Inspectors. Examination hearings took place in September 2021.  Following the Hearing Sessions, the Planning Inspectors have identified a number of Main Modifications to the Draft Plan. These are changes that they consider are required to make the Plan sound in the light of issues identified during the examination. This is without prejudice to the Inspector’s ultimate conclusions and recommendations on the Plan.

A consultation on the main modifications took place from 14 July to 2 September 2022 . The consultation only concerned the Main Modifications to the plan recommended by the Inspector. A list of documents that were published as part of this consultation is set out below:
  • Schedule of Main Modifications on the South London Waste Plan
  • Changes to the Policies Map
  • Sustainability Appraisal and EqIA on the Main Modifications

The councils also published a Schedule of Additional Modifications but these were factual, minor or inconsequential changes and were not for consultation, but were published for completeness.

All documents including frequently asked questions can be found online.

Last Modified: 03/01/2023 13:06:28