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1.1 INTRODUCTION / PREAMBLE OR STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES
It is proposed that a general preamble or introduction is given in the relevant planning documentation to set the scene for the more detailed resource management policies that follow.
Model Preamble The Planning Authority will encourage the efficient use of finite mineral resources and alternative materials, where practicable, by encouraging: (a) the appropriate use of high performance minerals only for end-uses for which that quality is essential; (b) the minimisation of the production of mineral and other inert waste; (c) the appropriate reuse and recycling of minerals and their products and the use of alternative aggregates, including those derived from industrial and construction and demolition waste. The disposal of inert waste, including construction and demolition waste, by landfill of mineral sites will only be acceptable where it can be demonstrated that landfill is the BPEO for restoration of the site. Conditions will be placed on planning permissions to ensure that only residual waste, e.g. the remainder of inert waste that has been subject to sorting or treatment, where this is practicable, is landfilled. |
1.2 TARGETS
Targets are considered to be an important tool in encouraging increased resource efficiency and should be set at a level consistent with targets set in higher level (i.e. national or regional) policies.
Model Policy 1a The Planning Authority will work towards the targets for waste minimisation, the reuse of materials, recycling and recovery set out in the prevailing National and Regional guidance. Initiatives and facilities which will help achieve this will be introduced so as to:
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Local targets should be established by the appropriate planning authority and set at a level which will require improvements in current practice and are considered to be achievable based on data available regarding current levels of reuse and recycling.
The Symonds Group “Survey of Arisings and Use of Construction and Demolition
Waste in England and Wales 2001” reports a national average recycling
rate above 50% with the notable exception of the South West (the only Region
with recycling levels below 35%) and the 80% registered in London. It is understood
that this survey will be repeated periodically to monitor progress towards
national targets with an updated report due in September 2004. Authorities
should satisfy themselves that they are using the most recent version when
setting targets. (Source:
http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_planning/documents/page/odpm_plan_606009.hcsp)
Model Policy 1b The measures described above will be implemented at local level to help achieve the target of XX% reuse and recycling of construction and demolition waste throughout the Plan Area. |
1.3 REDUCTION, RE-USE AND RECYCLING DURING DEMOLITION AND DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS
There are a number of initiatives and activities that can be taken to reduce the demand for new materials, reduce waste arisings and encourage the reuse and recycling of materials on development sites.
However it is acknowledged that it is not practicable to implement these on all development schemes, particularly smaller schemes. Accordingly it is proposed that Authorities set thresholds for development below which it is left to the discretion of the applicant as to which measures they implement. Developers working on smaller sites should still be encouraged to consider resource efficiency in their activities.
The definition of this threshold is left to the Authority. An example, which focuses on the likely impacts of the development rather than just the physical size, is given below:
Large schemes are defined as:
• Developments of more than 5 houses
• Commercial and industrial developments of more than 235 sqm
• Car parks with more than 200 spaces
• Developments which attract large numbers of visitors, and
• Any other development which the Authority considers to have important waste management implications.
The standard definition of major sites used in the General Development Control Return (PS2) to the ODPM is reported here for reference.
For residential developments, a major site is one where 10 or more dwellings are to be constructed or, if this is not known, where the site area is 0.5 hectares or more. For other types of development, a major site is one where the floorspace to be built is 1,000 square metres or more, or the site area is 1 hectare or more. A minor site is a development which does not meet the criteria for major development nor the definitions of Change of Use or Householder Development.
Model Policy 2 All large development proposals shall have regard to the need to minimise, re-use and recycle waste generated during the demolition and/or construction phase, and shall demonstrate that:
Initiatives to reduce waste generation and disposal will be encouraged throughout the Planning Area through additional requirements implemented at planning application stage. The Planning Authorities will promote and support partnerships between Local Authorities and the construction industry to utilise waste materials from public construction work |
This policy should lead to the introduction of a waste audit/management plan, checklist or report, as outlined in the following policies.
1.4 FACILITIES FOR CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE RECYCLING AND RECOVERY
Model Policy 3 Facilities for the recovery and recycling of construction and demolition waste materials will be permitted, subject to other policies of the plan where relevant, in the following type of locations:
Proposals will be permitted where it can be demonstrated that:
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2.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: SUSTAINABILITY
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES
It is proposed that a general preamble or introduction is given in the relevant planning documentation to set the scene for the more detailed natural resource management and sustainable construction policies that follow.
Model Preamble – Natural resources The prudent use of natural resources is one of the UK Government’s objectives for Sustainable Development. It is therefore the objective of the following policies to:
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Model Preamble – Sustainable development The planning authority will work with the developers to reduce the resource consumption (materials and energy) of new development throughout its life from construction through occupation and maintenance to eventual decommissioning. |
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES
It is proposed that a general preamble or introduction is given in the relevant planning documentation to set the scene for the more detailed waste management policies that follow.
Model Preamble – Waste Management Waste management and disposal should adopt the sustainable principles of the:
New development and land use will require the provision of appropriate and necessary facilities for the recycling, storage, treatment and removal of waste likely to be generated during their whole life. |
2.2 IMPLEMENTATION POLICIES AND MONITORING
The planning authority can require applicants (either just for large developments or for all developments) to demonstrate how they propose to improve resource efficiency through the use of supplementary documentation, to be presented together with the planning application documents. These may include:
The aim of these documents is to ensure that the impact in terms of resource use of the whole life of the development is considered, starting from the design, through construction and use to decommissioning, i.e. change of use or deconstruction/demolition.
The designers can choose materials and practices which maximise the efficiency of resource use through, for example, the specification of recycled materials, flexible space planning (to facilitate future changes of use) and modular construction (which would enable decommissioning through deconstruction with enhanced potential for reuse of construction materials).
Good working practices and site management can minimise the amount of waste produced and maximise reuse and recycling at the construction stage. Occupation and use of the building, including any repair will generate waste and therefore measures and facilities for the sustainable management of this waste must be included. At decommissioning stage, including for pre-existing buildings on the site of the new development, every effort should be put into reusing the building, and where there is not possible, good demolition practices can significantly improve the level of reuse and recycling.
It is proposed that the decision on what information/which document to require will be taken by the Planning Authority. However, care should be taken to make sure that resource efficiency will have an appropriate weighting with other sustainability issues if, for example, a broad sustainability assessment is chosen. This balance could be achieved by, for example, stating the minimum scoring requirements in the assessment of relevant aspects of the building design and construction (i.e.: use of recycled/recyclable materials, waste generated etc.).
For clarity and transparency, the Planning Authority should indicate the criteria to be used in assessing the documents, e.g.: minimum score or pass grade for Ecohomes and BREEAM. Adequate guidance should also be made available to the applicants through relevant Supplementary Planning Statements or similar, or reference to relevant guidance if a standard tool is chosen.
The control over the enforcement of those measures should be exerted through collaboration with the Building Control department and follow similar procedures (e.g.: spot checks on building sites).
An appropriate monitoring mechanism should be introduced to assess the progress towards the targets set. So, for example, during the above mentioned spot-checks, an estimation of the waste produced, reused or recycled or leaving the site for landfill disposal could be made and recorded, to aid in comparing with waste produced etc. in other comparable sites and/or producing an estimate of the waste produced in a given period in an area. Site waste benchmark data are available for each type of construction site as a result of work undertaken by BRE through their SmartWaste tool.
2.2.1 WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN REQUIREMENT FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
Model Policy 4 The planning authority will only grant planning permissions for large* developments which minimise construction industry waste arisings. Developers should satisfactorily demonstrate through a waste management plan that in the design, demolition of existing buildings, construction, operation and occupation of the new development, the requirements of model policy 2 have been followed, namely:
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* For observations regarding the definition of large developments, please refer to section 1.3.
2.2.2 WASTE AUDIT REQUIREMENT FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
Model Policy 5 Larger schemes must be accompanied by a waste audit at the planning
submission stage. The audit shall comprise an estimation of the type
and volume of waste that the development will generate during its construction
(including demolition of pre-existing buildings and/or site preparation),
occupation and, if possible, decommissioning (either change of use or
deconstruction/demolition), and the waste management options to be employed
to manage this waste.
All such planning applications shall also include facilities for the storage, collection and recycling of waste. The requirement for a waste audit constitutes (one of) the instrument(s) for implementing the core strategies on resource efficiency. The Authority will introduce a mechanism to monitor on a periodic basis the progress towards the prevailing target(s) set out at as detailed in model policies 1a & 1b. |
2.2.3 SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST.
Various Authorities have devised or are in the process of preparing their own sustainability checklists with accompanying guidelines.
The London Borough of Enfield has conducted a survey within the London Authorities to assess how Sustainable Construction has been introduced in the relevant plans. The London Boroughs of Brent, Enfield, Haringey, Merton and Westminster, have introduced sustainability checklists as requirement of a specific policy. Brent and Westminster sustainability checklists or assessments apply to certain type and size of buildings. Merton’s relates to large scale development proposals. Enfield and Haringey sustainability assessment applies to all scales: householders, minor and major applications. Examples of such checklists can be found on the Boroughs’ websites.
Outside London, the postal survey conducted by Viridis identified other similar examples (Brighton and Hove, Dacorum Borough Council) and evidence of many other planning authorities being in the process of producing a similar checklist.
Model Policy 6 Applicants for planning permission must ensure that the design and construction of their proposed development have regard to the principles of sustainability, especially those relating to the built and natural environment. Applicants are required:
The Sustainability Assessment checklist and relevant supplementary
guidance detailing the scoring criteria and sustainability measures
which could be adopted to maximise the score are available from the
planning authority. |
2.2.4 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT.
Model Policy 7 The Planning Authority will require that proposals for new developments
or for the conversion or reuse of sites or buildings demonstrate, in
a sustainability report, how various aspects of sustainability including
energy conservation, efficient use of resources, and recycling and minimisation
of waste have been taken into account. |
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