Draft National Policy Statement on Waste Water

The Draft National Policy Statement (NPS) on Waste Water Report (HC 736) was published on Tuesday 5 April 2011. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into the proposal for a National Policy Statement (NPS) on Waste Water, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 16 November. The … Show more

The Draft National Policy Statement (NPS) on Waste Water Report (HC 736) was published on Tuesday 5 April 2011. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into the proposal for a National Policy Statement (NPS) on Waste Water, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 16 November. The NPS sets out the proposed policy framework to inform planning decisions on applications for large waste water infrastructure projects, such as sewage treatment works. The Committee’s scrutiny focussed on the following four areas: 1. Responses to the questions in Defra’s consultation. 2. Do the general planning principles set out in the proposed Waste Water NPS form a coherent, appropriate, proportionate and practical framework within which the Infrastructure Planning Commission and other planners can assess future waste water infrastructure planning applications? 3. Are the sustainability and environmental criteria outlined in the draft Waste Water NPS and associated documents appropriate, proportionate and practical? 4. Have issues or principles been left out which should have been included in the draft Waste Water NPS? Committee Chair Anne McIntosh said “Waste water infrastructure is vital to our society and it is essential that its development is managed within the best planning framework. The principles and guidelines set out in the draft National Policy Statement will affect the granting of planning permission for certain key schemes and will therefore affect local communities and businesses as well as other stakeholders across the country. It is essential that we get this NPS right so my committee is keen to hear views or concerns from anyone with an interest in the proposed Waste Water NPS." Further information on The draft National Policy Statement (NPS) on Waste Water inquiry including details of Report, Response and evidence Show less