9:34pm Monday 22nd October 2007
By Andy Whelan
Controversial plans to build an incinerator have been thrown into doubt, it emerged today.
East Sussex County Council has been forced to reconsider its decision to grant planning permission for the Newhaven incinerator.
Changes in the Government's planning policies mean the authority's decision to build the plant in North Quay could be challenged.
On September 27 the Government's new local development framework came into effect and replaced the former local development plans.
The council granted planning permission to Veolia in February.
Now opponents to the scheme believe the decision might fall foul of the Government's requirements as laid out in the new framework.
East Sussex has announced it will hold a planning committee meeting, probably on November 7, to reconsider the planning application.
The council will reconsider the application ahead of the compulsory purchase inquiry which begins on November 13.
The authority has applied for the compulsory purchase order to facilitate the purchase of the land for incinerator by Veolia.
Alan Edgar, a planning consultant to various objectors to the scheme, said: "In the context of the huge amount of objections to the incinerator, which is some 16,000 people, it is obvious the county council is making sure that it doesn't fall foul of any of the regulations.
"It is obvious that they are concerned that the original planning permission decision could be challenged."
Campaigners insist the incinerator, which will process 210,000 tonnes of refuse annually, will be an eyesore and have a negative impact on the environment.
An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: "Since the meeting at which the (planning) committee approved the application in February, the Government has removed various policies from development plans.
"The county council and all other local authorities were told at the end of September which policies were being removed.
"As a result, the county council's planning committee will reconsider the planning application in the light of current development plan policies."
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