3.6 Future BPEO Developments

To allow for future development of proposals not included in the plan, BPEO decisions may be superseded by valid proposals that can be shown to provide a solution which is as good as, or better than, the BPEO. The Waste Strategy Area Group will consider evaluating relevant waste management proposals that have undergone the BPEO appraisal process as part of the monitoring and review process.

Action 23
Review the BPEO and take into account developments in new technologies for potential integration in the overall review of the Area Waste Plan.

The options included in the BPEO evaluation are generic and, for the most part, not site-specific. Hence site-specific development proposals that arise both inside and outside the borders of the Waste Strategy Area are valid and may satisfy or improve the agreed BPEO.

Regional or national-scale waste facilities may be proposed by developers at a scale designed to attract waste from outside the Waste Strategy Area in which they are located. As part of the planning application process, the developer may be required to demonstrate that the proposals satisfy or exceed the BPEO of the Waste Strategy Areas from which the waste will be obtained. The results of this BPEO evaluation will be a material consideration in the planning process for such developments.

Where existing or proposed regional or national–scale facilities will result in waste movement between Waste Strategy Areas, then the ‘Export or Import’ of waste should be considered as part of the BPEO process, both for the importing and exporting areas, where it is proposed as an original or developing option. Any subsequent review of BPEOs should also take this into consideration. Approval of the proposed waste management facilities in the importing area is a matter for consideration by the planning and licensing authorities.