This note outlines the planning guidance that has been developed by WIDP (and endorsed by the Project Review Group) for use by Authorities procuring residual waste treatment facilities. In particular, the guidance addresses means to help reduce the planning risks associated with delivering waste facilities (irrespective of the nature or size of the proposed waste facility) to which procurements are exposed in the situation up to the adoption of a Development Planning Document covering waste as an element of the Local Development Framework. The purpose of the guidance is to facilitate a transitive process in planning towards the delivery of successful procurement outcomes, avoiding as far as possible complications arising late on in the procurement process or during implementation. It is suggested that the guidance is appropriate even for projects that are well advanced in their procurement preparations.
Although some aspects of the note that follow are framed towards the approvals process relating to PFI projects, WIDP's planning guidance is equally relevant to non-PFI procurements.