About this page
How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works
These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:
Policy background
- Relevant national policy or regulations
- National or regional trends
- Local situation and needs/li>
- How we have dealt with this issue in the past
- The thinking behind the policy
Policy options for the new Local Plan
We may suggest a variety of approaches:
- Keeping existing policy as it is
- Making small changes
- Replacing the policy with something that is substantially different
- Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future
Policy option analysis
- A list of the advantages and disadvantages that we have identified for each of the policy options we are presenting.
Explore the policy
Select a section below to read more.
The Joint Waste Core Strategy was prepared by the West of England authorities (Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire) and adopted in 2011. It sets out the strategic spatial planning policy for the provision of waste management infrastructure across the sub region plan area and is part of the statutory development plan for Bath and North East Somerset when considering development proposals for waste management. The Joint Waste Core Strategy also contains policies to direct the development of waste treatment facilities (that involving the recycling, composting, storage and transfer of wastes) and for the disposal of waste and includes site allocations for residual waste treatment facilities under Policy 5, subject also to development management policies.
One of the sites within the Joint Waste Core Strategy allocated for residual waste facilities within Bath and North East Somerset is at Broadmead Lane, Keynsham. This waste facility site allocation falls within an area that is being considered and has been identified in this Local Plan Options document as a proposed option for a major mixed-use development (that wouldn’t include a waste facility) at North Keynsham (see chapter 6). Superseding this waste site allocation with a Local Plan allocation for mixed use development in the Draft Local Plan would potentially have implications for waste planning in the district and sub-region.
Notwithstanding this, there have been a number of changes since the Joint Waste Core Strategy was adopted in 2011. For example, the Waste Management Plan for England (2021) seeks to encourage a more sustainable and efficient approach to resource management and outlines the policies that are in place to help move towards a zero waste economy. The Environment Act 2021 and associated emerging regulations bring in statutory targets for residual waste, recycling and waste collections. Environment Act regulations coming into force in March 2025 require businesses to recycle food, glass, metal, plastic, paper and card. Whilst this is unlikely to increase the overall waste arisings this should increase the demand for recycling.
The proposed approach to waste planning will be investigated further in preparing the Draft Local Plan and in conjunction and co-operation with our neighbouring West of England authorities. This is particularly important given the cross boundary strategic nature of waste apportionment and treatment which is currently dealt with in the adopted West of England Joint Waste Core Strategy. As part of formulating waste policies for the new Local Plan, new waste technologies, including opportunities to deliver small scale or micro waste management facilities on strategic development sites, should be explored - these would have the potential to treat residual waste arisings from developments on-site.
Option A
We propose to work together with neighbouring authorities, via WECA ,to investigate our approach to waste planning. We will look at new waste technologies and opportunities for small-scale or micro waste management facilities at some of our strategic development sites.