The Planning Policy Advisory Panel met to discuss the proposed submission version of the West London Waste Plan (WLWP) and its next steps. The panel received an update on the WLWP, a joint plan prepared by seven West London authorities to manage waste-related development. The current WLWP, adopted in 2015, is considered out of date and requires updating to align with national and regional planning policies. The Regulation 19 version of the plan has been prepared following consultation on the Regulation 18 draft, which took place between December 2025 and February 2026.

Proposed Submission Version of the West London Waste Plan ('Regulation 19') and Next Steps

During the Regulation 18 consultation, 77 comments were received. Notably, none of these comments related directly to Harrow. A key response was from the Mayor of London, who raised concerns about the plan's general conformity with the London Plan. Discussions are ongoing with the Mayor's office to resolve these issues.

The next steps involve publishing the Regulation 19 version for an eight-week public comment period from August to September 2026. Following this, the plan, along with supporting information and comments received, will be submitted to the government for examination by an independent planning inspector. The participating authorities aim to submit the plan by the end of December 2026 to ensure it is examined under the current planning regulations.

Concerns were raised regarding the Forward Drive site being the sole waste facility in Harrow, presenting a potential single point of failure. Officers responded that the plan's approach is to safeguard existing sites rather than allocate new ones, as no new sites are needed to meet London Plan waste targets. The resilience of Forward Drive is considered an operational matter outside the scope of the plan's policies.

The impact on infrastructure from waste transport was also discussed. As no new sites are proposed, increased waste movements are not expected, and the policies are not anticipated to impact local infrastructure.

A new policy, WLWP7, concerning the provision of wastewater treatment infrastructure, was introduced at the request of Thames Water Utilities to safeguard existing infrastructure and provide criteria for assessing new proposals. This policy, while not directly related to waste, aims to respond positively to statutory bodies' requests to minimise objections during the examination process.

Regarding public consultation for the Regulation 19 stage, in-person drop-in events will not be held due to limited attendance during the previous stage and a desire for a consistent approach across the seven authorities. However, publication materials will be available in libraries and online, with hard copies accessible.

Questions were raised about the Mayor of London's specific concerns, which related to the release of safeguarded waste sites and the requirement for compensatory capacity. These issues have been discussed, and amendments have been made to the plan. The potential for other boroughs, such as Tower Hamlets and Lambeth, to utilise surplus capacity in West London is also being considered.

The panel was asked to note the report and appendices, the recommendations made to Cabinet and Council, the responses to the Regulation 18 consultation, and the proposed publication arrangements. The panel agreed to note these items, concluding the discussion on this agenda item.

The meeting concluded shortly after this item, with no other urgent business raised.