It is important to recognise how the design process relates to the delivery of new waste facilities. Whether financed or developed publicly or privately there are several consistent stages:
■ establish need
■ develop business case
■ define and design the solution
■ implement proposals.
The procurement of a waste facility may come before or after the site-specific design stage, but it is important that the proposals for a given site relate to the means of securing finance. A waste management company or local authority will have to consider the logistics of construction of a new waste facility. At this stage design aspirations should be clearly set out and included within the project brief alongside cost and delivery targets. It may also be appropriate to include specific design criteria as part of the bid evaluation process to test bidders' ability to deliver the required quality of design and their appreciation of site constraints and opportunities. It is critical that the procurement process does not ignore design given its significance to the planning process. Without good design there may not be a project.
'Good design, layout and aesthetic treatment are essential when delivering waste infrastructure projects. This not only facilitates community acceptance of such projects, but maximises waste management opportunities for the site.' Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme |