Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Waste Local Plan (WLP)

The Planning and Compensation Act 1991 introduced a new requirement for County Councils in England to prepare Waste Local Plans (WLPs). Following Local Government reorganisation in 1997, an agreement was reached between Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and Rutland County Council District Council to prepare, monitor and review a single WLP covering the area of all three Authorities.

Following a lengthy period of preparation, the WLP was finally adopted on 2nd September 2002 and came into operation on 11th September 2002. The purpose of the WLP is to set out detailed policies and guidance on waste development up to 2006. It provides the basis for informed decision-making on waste management planning applications and provides a greater element of certainty regarding the extent and location of future waste development to both industry and local residents.

The main objectives of the WLP are:

to identify existing waste disposal sites with capacity;

to calculate waste disposal requirements for all waste types;

to identify the amount and location of waste management facilities required to meet needs;

to have regard to the priorities for managing waste included in the Waste Disposal Management Plan in the formulation of land-use planning; and

the setting out of criteria against which planning applications for waste management will be assessed.

Policies and proposals of the WLP should be monitored and kept as up to date as possible. Following adoption of the WLP, subject to any legislative changes, timescales will be drawn up for the commencement of a review of the WLP.