Eric Pickles Approves Javelin Park EfW

On 6 January 2015, over a year since the public inquiry into the appeal opened, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has granted an appeal against Gloucester County Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for Urbaser Balfour Beatty’s Javelin Park Energy from Waste (‘EfW’).

The decision is an interesting example of the Secretary of State applying the recently published waste guidance contained in the online Planning Practise Guidance. On the frequently raised issues of self-sufficiency and proximity, the Secretary of State relied on the PPG to consider that while it should be the aim that each waste authority is self-sufficient this aim should be considered in the context of having the flexibility to ensure the efficient use of capacity.