Hillingdon Council's Cabinet has recommended the publication and consultation of the Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) West London Waste Plan, moving the plan a step closer to final approval.
The plan, developed collaboratively with neighbouring West London boroughs, outlines a coordinated approach to waste management across the region. It aims to address the need for waste management capacity to manage projected waste arisings up to 2041, promoting prevention, reuse, recycling, and recovery over disposal. Key goals include safeguarding existing waste sites, encouraging facilities that contribute to a circular economy, decarbonising waste transport and processing, and delivering high-quality, resilient waste facilities. The plan also seeks to manage waste close to its source and promote sustainable transport modes, while protecting the environment and communities. Specific challenges addressed include competition for land, conflicting land uses, environmental constraints, and the need for efficient transport infrastructure, with consideration given to the potential impacts of Heathrow Airport expansion.
This proposed submission is a draft update of the existing West London Waste Plan, which was adopted in 2015 and is considered outdated. The new plan has been tested by consultants to ensure it will deliver sufficient capacity for waste, even in uncertain future environments. It has been designed to operate efficiently and smoothly, ensuring a coordinated approach to waste management across West London.
Councillor Nick Denys, Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing & Property, explained that the proposed sites for Hillingdon specifically remain unchanged from the existing plan. Two previously proposed new sites were rejected due to unsuitability.
Dan Kennedy, Corporate Director of Residents Services, confirmed that the programme is on track to meet government deadlines. The recommendations will be forwarded to Full Council for final approval.
The West London Waste Plan will be used for development management purposes in determining planning applications related to waste management. It sets out policies that will guide decisions on waste-related planning applications and applications that could impact safeguarded waste sites. These policies cover safeguarding and optimising the waste site network, provision of additional waste management capacity, residual waste management and energy recovery, ensuring high-quality and resilient waste facilities, recovery and disposal of waste to land, circular economy and resource efficiency, and wastewater infrastructure.
The plan aims to contribute to the ambition of being net zero by 2030 across West London and promote a zero-waste to disposal approach. It supports the London Plan targets for waste management, including zero biodegradable or recyclable waste going to landfill by 2026 and a 65% municipal waste recycling target by 2030. This is expected to increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste going for disposal.
The Regulation 19 Proposed Submission West London Waste Plan will be published for consultation over an 8-week period commencing in August 2026. Following this, representations will be reviewed, and the Plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination in December 2026. The examination is expected to take place in early-mid 2027, with adoption anticipated in late 2027/early 2028.
The West London Waste Plan is a key policy document that will guide waste management development and planning applications across the participating boroughs. See the full public reports pack here.