Policy information sourced from the Lewisham Local Plan
SD12 Reducing and sustainably managing waste
Strategic Objectives:
E Responding to the climate emergency,
H Securing the timely delivery of infrastructure.
A The Council will ensure that waste is sustainably managed in ways which protect human health and the environment. A circular economy approach will be promoted in Lewisham in order to conserve and make a more efficient use of resources, to achieve increases in the re-use and recycling of materials and reductions in waste going for disposal. Development proposals must apply the waste hierarchy and follow circular economy principles, in line with Policy SD 13 (Design to support the circular economy).
B To help London achieve waste net self-sufficiency, meet the Borough’s strategic waste apportionment target and other requirements, including the London Mayor’s recycling and composting targets, the Council will work in partnership with stakeholders including the South East London Joint Waste Planning Group. The following are strategically safeguarded waste sites in Lewisham:
- South East London Combined Heat and Power (SELCHP) energy recovery facility, New Cross
- Recycling Centre (HTL Waste Management Services), New Cross
- Reuse & Recycling Centre (London Borough of Lewisham), New Cross.
C Development proposals that will result in the loss of an existing waste site through a change of use will only be permitted where adequate replacement waste processing capacity is secured in accordance with London Plan policy SI9 (Safeguarded waste sites).
D Development proposals for new waste management facilities will only be permitted where:
- They are required within the Borough to meet an identified strategic need, having regard to the proximity and selfsufficiency principles;
- It is demonstrated that the waste management capacity at existing safeguarded waste sites has been maximised, and there are no opportunities for appropriately increasing capacity at these sites to meet the identified need;
- They are located within a Strategic Industrial Location (SIL), or involve alterations or extensions to an existing facility located outside a SIL, and have high quality supporting infrastructure necessary for the intended use;
- They achieve a positive carbon outcome or demonstrate that steps are in place to meet the minimum greenhouse gas performance target, in line with London Plan policy SI8 (Waste capacity and net waste self-sufficiency); and
- They will not result in any adverse impacts on human health, the natural environment and local amenity, having regard to relevant legislation and other development plan policies.
E Development proposals for waste management facilities must be located and designed with reference to the Agent of Change principle. They should be fully enclosed on all sides and have a roof along with fast-acting doors, and must be designed with these measures where the development is likely to have a significant impact on impact on local amenity.
F Where development proposals involve alterations to an existing waste management facility, they must demonstrate how they have maximised opportunities to improve the environmental performance of the facility as well as to reduce and mitigate its impact on local amenity.
For more information and policy context please see the Lewisham Local Plan