GM Joint Waste Plan Consultations

Submission and Examination

The Waste Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State on 28th February 2011. Other relevant documents were submitted alongside the Waste Plan, including the following:

  • The Sustainability Appraisal Report
  • Habitats Regulations Assessment
  • Equalities Impact Assessment
  • Statement of Consultation
  • Summary of Representations received at Publication
  • Schedule of Proposed Minor Changes to the published DPD
  • Amendments to the adopted Proposals Maps in Greater Manchester
  • Various evidence base documents

Examination hearing sessions were held between 28th June and 1st July 2011, during which time a number of proposed minor changes to the Submitted Waste Plan were proposed. The Inspector requested that these proposed minor changes be publicised and consultation ran for a six week period from 22nd July to 2nd September 2011. The Inspector decided to reconvene the Examination hearings in relation to the proposed minor changes, and the hearing session was held on 22nd September 2011.

Publication Consultation

The Waste Plan was published on the 1st November 2010, with the six week consultation period concluding on the 13th December 2010. The published Waste Plan included the site/area allocations and policies to guide waste development in Greater Manchester until 2027.

Publication of the Waste Plan allowed for representations to be made in connection with issues of soundness (i.e. whether the Waste Plan is justified, whether it is effective and whether it is consistent with national policy) and legal compliance only.

Preferred Option Consultation

Consultation on the Preferred Option Report commenced on 13th November 2009 and finished on 8th January 2010. The Preferred Option Report set out the preferred policy direction to guide waste management and also the preferred sites/areas for waste facilities.

Issues and Options Consultation

The Issues and Options consultation was carried out in several parts: the first in autumn 2007 focused on the strategic aspects of developing a Waste Plan, including consultation on aims and objectives, the second in 2008 focused on built waste management facilities and the third in spring 2009 focused on residual waste disposal facilities, such as landfill.

During these earlier stages of public consultation additional sites were brought forward by the waste industry and landowners. The process for assessing any site being considered as part of the Waste Plan included a desk based assessment, site visit, sustainability appraisal and public consultation. These additional sites were subject to this site assessment process and public consultation during summer 2009.

Further information is available from the GM Waste Plan website.