East London Joint Waste Plan

Closes 16 Sep 2024

Opened 29 Jul 2024

Contact

eljointwasteplan@havering.gov.uk

Overview

The London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, and Redbridge are working collaboratively to produce a new East London Joint Waste Plan (ELJWP). 

It is a statutory requirement to produce an up-to-date waste plan. The most recent East London Joint Waste Plan was adopted in 2012, and expired in 2021. The emerging East London Joint Waste Plan will replace the out-of-date 2012 East London Joint Waste Plan.

This page will include the most up-to-date information about the progression of the waste plan, including consultations and events. 

Regulation 18 Consultation

Consultation on the draft ELJWP is now live. Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge are inviting residents and stakeholders to comment on the draft plan.

We are seeking comments on:

  • The Draft East London Joint Waste Plan 
  • The Integrated Impact Assessment 
  • Evidence base documents that support the draft ELJWP

All of these documents are available to view and download at the bottom of this page, under the 'Related' heading.

Please fill out our feedback form below to submit your comments.

Alternatively, you can email comments or queries to eljointwasteplan@havering.gov.uk or post them to: Development Planning Team, Havering Town Hall, Main Road, Romford RM1 3BB

As part of this process, we held an on-line consultation event on 14 August 2024 and you can access the recording here:

Updated and added 16 August 2024

FAQs

What is the East London Joint Waste Plan?

The East London Joint Waste Plan sets out the planning strategy for waste management in East London till 2041. 

We are required to safeguard sufficient land to enable us to manage the waste targets set for us in the London Plan 2021. The London Plan is the Spatial Development Strategy for Greater London. It sets out a framework for how London will develop over the next 20-25 years. The East London Joint Waste Plan proposes to safeguard sufficient sites across the four boroughs to sustainably manage all types of waste.  

The Joint Waste Plan also sets out policies for determining planning applications that involve the management of waste. These planning applications concern proposals for: 

  • new waste management sites; 

  • changes to existing waste management sites; and 

  • proposals that might otherwise affect how waste is managed (for example proposals to redevelop existing waste management facilities for other non-waste uses or to change how a facility operates).  

The Plan is also concerned with how proposals for new development consider how waste will be managed during demolition and construction and operational phases of a development. 

The East London Joint Waste Plan has been informed by evidence base documents (view at the bottom of this webpage), which have researched specific aspects of the Plan, such as the amount of waste management capacity waste sites in east London have and how we can embed good practice environmental standards in new developments. The plan has also been informed by Council and regional strategies, such as The Joint Strategy for East London's Resources and Waste (2027-57) (see ‘What is the difference between the East London Joint Waste Plan and the East London Waste Authority?’). 

Why does the waste plan need updating?

It is a statutory requirement to produce an up-to-date waste plan. The most recent East London Joint Waste Plan was adopted in 2012, and sets out a planning strategy for waste until 2021. The emerging East London Joint Waste Plan will replace the out-of-date 2012 East London Joint Waste Plan. The new East London Joint Waste Plan will consider any changes that have occurred since 2012, including: 

  • any changes to operational waste sites in East London; 

  • updated policy documents; 

  • the evolution of waste management technologies and approaches; and  

  • changes in patterns of waste production across east London. 

What stage is the East London Joint Waste Plan at?

This consultation is about the first draft of the new Joint Waste Plan for East London. It is formally known as the 'Regulation 18' stage of the plan’s preparation. For further information see The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (legislation.gov.uk)

What is the current consultation about?

This is the first stage of public consultation on the draft East London Joint Waste Plan. We are looking for feedback on the draft plan, including what you would keep, change or add to the content of the plan.

You can also make comments on the evidence base supporting the draft East London Joint Waste Plan. Evidence base documents are available to view and download at the bottom of this page. These can also be requested as hard copies to view by emailing eljointwasteplan@havering.gov.uk. 

What can the East London Joint Waste Plan influence?

The East London Joint Waste Plan can influence developments that require planning permission for: 

  • New waste management sites in east London;  

  • The loss or alteration of any existing waste sites in east London; and 

  • New developments where the end user will need to dispose of waste (for example residential or commercial developments that contain bin storage). We can help to encourage higher rates of waste reduction and recycling in these developments through good design and management. 

What can't the East London Joint Waste Plan influence?

The East London Joint Waste Plan can’t influence: 

  • The frequency and types of waste collection services the boroughs offer; 

  • The different materials the boroughs are able to recycle; 

  • Issues with litter and street cleanliness; 

  • The amount and type of street bins in the boroughs; 

  • Detailed guidance requirements on how the capacity of shared bin stores and how they should be laid out; 

  • The cost of collections of bulky items. 

The above matters are dealt with by the boroughs’ Waste and Recycling teams. If you have feedback to share with these services please contact the Waste and Recycling team of the borough you live or work in. 

The East London Joint Waste Plan also cannot secure particular end users of sites or new uses. These will be brought forward by developers, we will assess their proposals against the requirements of the East London Joint Waste Plan where they require planning permission. 

What sites is the Plan safeguarding and why?

The East London Joint Waste Plan will safeguard sufficient sites across the four boroughs to sustainably manage all types of waste.  

The sites proposed for safeguarding are listed in Appendix 1 of the East London Joint Waste Plan with maps and further details included in Appendix 2.

Why is the East London Joint Waste Plan allowing for the release of some existing waste sites?

Currently the majority of waste sites in London are safeguarded through the London Plan 2021, under Policy SI 9 (Safeguarded waste sites). The London Plan is the Spatial Development Strategy for Greater London. It sets out a framework for how London will develop over the next 20-25 years. 

The most recent waste management capacity assessment for East London demonstrates that there is a surplus of capacity necessary for the management of current and forecast future waste arisings in East London. Therefore, we are looking to release land occupied by poorly located or under-utilised waste management facilities, or where there are land use tensions with the boroughs respective Local Plans.  

The supporting text for Policy SI 9 sets out that any proposed release of current waste sites or those identified for future waste management capacity should be part of a plan-led process, rather than done on an ad-hoc basis. Therefore, by considering the release of waste sites as part of the update of the East London Joint Waste Plan, we are seeking to comply with the requirements of the London Plan by undertaking this process through the review of the Joint Waste Plan. 

What sites is the Plan releasing?

A list of sites the East London boroughs are proposing to release through the Joint Waste Plan are listed below. It should be noted that Redbridge and Havering are not planning to release any waste sites from safeguarding. 

Safeguarded sites for identified for release in Barking and Dagenham;

Site  

Permitted Use  

Waste Capacity (tonnes per annum - tpa)  

Barking Eurohub, Box Lane, Barking  

Transfer Station taking Non-Biodegradable Wastes  

c270,000  

Gallions Close, Barking, IG11 0JD  

Recycling  

c50,000  

17-19 Thames Road, Barking IG11 0HS  

Waste processing and recycling facility  

Not operational  

The Annex of Shed A, Box Lane, Barking IG11 0SQ  

Non Haz Waste Transfer / Treatment  

c36,000  

Renwick Road Rail Hub, Barking  

Non Haz Waste Transfer  

c200,000  

Safeguarded sites for identified for release in Newham;

Site  

Permitted Use  

Waste Capacity (tpa)  

12 Barbers Road, Stratford, E15 2PH  

Waste separation & recycling centre  

c107,000  

Connolleys Yard, Unit 5c Thames Road, London, E16 2EZ  

Metal Recycling Site  

c35,000  

It should be noted that even with the release of these sites, East London still has a sufficient capacity surplus for waste management up to 2041. 

How can I have my say?

There are multiple ways you can get involved in the consultation: 

  • View the consultation documents on our dedicated consultation page, hosted by Havering. All documents are available to view and download at the bottom of this page under 'Related'.

  • Hard copies of the draft Plan are available for inspection at the boroughs’ main offices (Barking Town Hall, Havering Town Hall, Newham Dockside and Redbridge Town Hall), at Dagenham Library and local libraries in Newham. 

  • You can attend a drop-in sessions with representatives from the Planning Policy team. Two drops in sessions will be held in each borough throughout the consultation period. Further details of the session are provided in the table below: 

Location 

Date 

Time 

Redbridge Central Library (Studio 2), Clements Road, Ilford, IG1 1EA 

5 August 2024 

4 - 6pm 

Rainham Library, 6 Celtic Farm Road, Rainham RM13 9GP 

6th August 2024 

2:30 – 4:30pm  

East Ham Library (Café area), 328 Barking Rd, London E6 2RT

15th August 2024

5 - 7pm

Barking Town Hall (Committee Room 2) 1 Clockhouse Ave, Barking IG11 7LU

21st August 2024

3 - 5pm

Stratford Library, 3 The Grove, Stratford, London, E15 1EL 

22nd August 2024 

10am - 12pm

Romford Library, St Edwards Way, Romford RM1 3AR 

28th August 2024 

9:30-11:30am  

Dagenham Learning Centre, 1 Church Elm Ln, Dagenham RM10 9QS 

4th September 2024

11am - 1pm

Keith Axon Community Centre, 160 Grove Road, Chadwell Heath, Redbridge RM6 4XB 

10th September 2024 

4 - 6pm

What is the difference between the Joint Waste Plan and the boroughs' Local Plan?

The East London Joint Waste Plan will form part of each of the East London boroughs’ Development Plans. A borough’s development plan includes all the key policy documents that planning applications are assessed against. Each of the East London Boroughs is preparing, or has adopted, a Local Plan. The Local Plan sets out planning policies for the borough. Each Local Plan contains an overarching policy on sustainable waste management which refer to the East London Waste Plan. 

The Joint Waste Plan is different to a borough’s Local Plan. The ‘Local Plan’ is concerned with all forms of development such as housing and employment. The Joint Waste Plan is primarily concerned with the management of waste. The East London Joint Waste Plan will include more detailed policies on waste management. These will be in conformity with existing Local Plan policies. 

It is important to note that all the policies of the Development Plan will be taken into account when decisions of development proposals are made. Furthermore, Supplementary Planning Documents may also exist which provide further guidance on the acceptability of certain aspects of development (e.g. design). 

Is this consultation the same as those taking place for boroughs' Local Plans?

No.  

Newham will be running a consultation on its draft Submission Local Plan at the same time as the Joint Waste Plan Regulation 18 consultation. However, although the Local Plan and Joint Waste Plan will form part of Newham’s development plan, they are separate documents. If you want to provide comments on both documents, you should do so under each document’s individual consultation. 

Further information on Newham’s draft Submission Local Plan consultation can be found on Newham’s website.

What is the difference between the East London Joint Waste Plan and the East London Waste Authority?

The East London Waste Authority (ELWA) is a statutory ‘Waste Disposal Authority’ (WDA) that was established on 1 January 1986 with responsibility for the management of household waste collected by the East London Boroughs.  

The preparation and delivery of the East London Joint Waste Plan is led by the Planning Policy teams of the East London Boroughs, rather than ELWA. The East London Joint Waste Plan is a planning document, which means it will be used to assess planning applications related to waste management. 

In 2023, ELWA published its ‘Joint Strategy for East London's Resources and Waste (2027-57)’. The Joint Strategy sets out the aims, objectives, priorities and actions for the Partner Authorities on preventing and reducing waste, increasing reuse and recycling, supporting improvements with infrastructure, and monitoring performance. This is a separate strategy to the East London Joint Waste Plan; however, the findings and recommendations of the Joint Strategy have informed the preparation of the East London Joint Waste Plan. 

Will the East London Joint Waste Plan help improve recycling?

Strategic Objective 1 of the East London Joint Waste Plan seeks to significantly reduce waste production overall in east London, through encouraging the integration of circular economy principles. This concept reflects efforts to retain materials in use at their highest value for as long as possible. Materials are then re-used or recycled, leaving a minimum of residual waste. 

The policies in the East London Joint Waste Plan embed the principles of the circular economy and will assist in meeting recycling targets set out in ELWA’s ‘Joint Strategy for East London's Resources and Waste (2027-57)’, which seeks to deliver a household recycling rate of between 35% and 50% by 2030. The Joint Waste Plan also identifies sites for recycling and other facilities which will divert waste from landfill sites. 

What is the Integrated Impact Assessment of the East London Joint Waste Plan?

LUC was commissioned in October 2023 to undertake an Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA), comprising Sustainability Appraisal (SA) incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Health Impact Assessment (HIA), Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA), and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) for the new East London Joint Waste Plan.  

The IIA appraises the likely effects of the vision, objectives and policies against a range of objectives related to the impacts of the draft Joint Waste Plan on sustainability, the environment, health, protected characteristics and local habitats. 

The IIA and associated HRA have been published as part of the consultation on the Regulation 18 draft of the East London Joint Waste Plan. You can comment on these as part of your response to the Joint Waste Plan. 

What happens next?

The draft East London Joint Waste Plan is still a work in progress. The East London boroughs will analyse any comments received on the draft East London Joint Waste Plan, which will inform the next draft of the Plan.  

Sign up to your borough’s Stakeholder Database to be notified when the next consultation starts: 

 

Give us your views

Feedback form

Events

Audiences

  • Residents
  • Developers
  • Residents
  • Businesses

Interests

  • Local Plans
  • Development
  • Residents
  • Communities
  • Businesses