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Q1. Why do we need to change how we deal with our rubbish?
There are a number of reasons why we need to make this change:
- The Partners have agreed that they should move away from disposing of rubbish in landfill to more sustainable methods of managing waste. This is important because available landfill space is declining and the costs of landfill are increasing dramatically.
- As a member of the European Union, the UK has agreed to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill to reduce its harmful impact on the environment. If we fail to meet EU targets we could face a penalty of £150 for every tonne of waste that we landfill over our target.
- There is an EfW already operating in Coventry which treats rubbish from each of the Councils. This facility has been operating since 1975 and although it is performing well it will soon reach the end of its viable economic life. Consequently we need to take steps now to develop an alternative – which is what we are doing through Project Transform.
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Q2. What is the process for developing a new facility?
There are five key areas that we have to address before we can develop a new facility. These are:
- Deciding how big the facility should be
- Deciding what technology we will use
- Deciding where the new facility should go
- Deciding which company will build and operate it
- Deciding how we are going to pay for the facility
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Q3. What size will the facility be?
The companies bidding for the contract have been asked to propose a size for the facility but we have provided them with information on the amount of waste we think will be produced by the sub-region in the future.
In conjunction with our specialist technical advisors we have developed a waste flow model which forecasts how much waste we will be producing in the future. We have used the best available information to develop our model and have taken into account the following information for the sub-region:
- Forecast increases in population and housing growth
- Introduction of new recycling schemes and initiatives
- Estimated increases in waste growth
Based on our latest model using data from 2008/09, we estimate that by 2041 we will need a facility that is capable of processing 284,000 tonnes of rubbish from the sub-region. This estimate is for rubbish that is produced by residents and does not include any waste produced by businesses in the sub-region. Based on this, we anticipate that the facility will have a processing capacity of between 300,000 – 320,000 tonnes of waste a year. To put this into perspective, the existing facility is licensed to process 315,000 tonnes of waste a year (but typically processes less).
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Q4. If the Partners only need a proportion of the available capacity what will the rest be used for?
Household waste (the waste produced by residents of the sub-region) makes up a relatively small proportion of the overall waste stream (about 9%). The rest of the available space in the facility will be sold to producers of commercial, industrial and business waste because they too will be seeking alternatives to landfill as the price of landfill increases.
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Q5. What technology will we use?
We didn’t ask bidders for a particular technology but left it for them to propose treatment technologies. However as the procurement process has progressed it has become clear that the long-listed companies have all decided the most commercially suitable solution is based on Energy from Waste technology incorporating the production of both heat and power.
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Q6. Where will the facility be located?
We adopted a neutral approach to site location and gave the bidding companies the opportunity to propose sites of their own. However we also provided a reference site located next to the existing EfW in Coventry for the bidding companies to use if they wish. This ensured a level playing field and also made the contract less risky for bidders in terms of site availability.
After assessing their options the long-listed bidders all propose to use the reference site in Coventry. So subject to successful planning applications, the new facility will be located in Coventry on the reference site.
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Q7. Why was Coventry put forward as the reference site?
A detailed analysis of possible sites in the sub-region was undertaken. We looked at a number of factors including protection of water resources, visual intrusion, traffic and access, ecology, cultural heritage and potential land use conflict. The London Road is the preferred site as it has an existing facility with excellent transport links and is well-established. Therefore we feel it will result in minimal disruption to the local community while achieving wider benefits for Coventry and the sub-region’s residents as a whole.
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Q8. What company will build and operate the facility?
Developing a new waste treatment facility is a long and complicated process. As councils, we have to follow strict regulations when we want to buy or procure new equipment or infrastructure. These regulations are set out by the European Union (EU) and are enforced.
We have to advertise the Project throughout the EU so that a wide range of European and British companies have the opportunity to bid for the contract, we then have to follow a formal tendering process where all companies bidding are treated equally and fairly. The tendering process we are following is called a Competitive Dialogue Procurement Process, which is the standard process for procuring this type of public infrastructure.
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Q9. What is the procurement process?
The first stage of this process started in October 2009, when we placed an advert in the Journal of the European Union inviting interested companies to bid for the contract. We decided that we would not specify what technology we wanted, but would leave it for the companies bidding to come forward with technologies based on their experience in delivering waste treatment facilities. We also took the decision to provide a site for all the companies to use (the reference site located in Coventry), but also allowed the companies to suggest sites of their own.
Interested companies were asked to complete a business questionnaire. This was assessed by the dedicated Project team and specialist legal, technical and financial advisors and a long-list of companies were invited to start the formal tendering process.
A long-list of 8 companies and consortia were selected and invited to submit their outline solutions (their initial ideas) on what could be developed to meet the requirements of the Partners. These will be evaluated by the Project Team and their specialist advisors. This stage of the process will be completed by the end of autumn 2010 when a shortlist of companies/consortia will be invited to prepare and submit their Detailed Solutions. This stage will be completed by summer 2011, when the last two companies will be selected. A Preferred bidder will be chosen at the end of 2011 and the final contract awarded to the winning company in early 2012.
The process is long and complex but it will enable us to negotiate a waste treatment solution that meets our requirements and present a sustainable, value for money solution for the sub-region.
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Q10. When will the new facility be built?
Before the new facility can be built we have to select the company we want to build and operate it. We also have to obtain planning permission for the reference site.
Project Transform plans to submit an Outline Planning Application to help establish that the reference site in Coventry can be used for waste treatment purposes. The aim of this application is to establish a precedent for the development of a waste treatment facility on the site.
The selected bidder will still need to apply for a full detailed planning permission once they are chosen. If planning permission is granted we estimate that the selected company will start to develop the new facility in 2013, and it should be operational in 2016. The selected company will also have to successfully apply to the Environment Agency for an Environmental Permit before the facility can become operational. It is standard practice to do this at the same time as the application for full planning permission.
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Q11. What will the new facility look like?
We have developed a design for the Outline Planning Application, but as we are still in discussion with companies regarding the final contract it could be that the facility that is built looks different to the design proposed in the Outline Planning Application. However, any design will follow sustainable design guidelines and will be developed to perform to high environmental standards. The facility will also include a visitor centre which will also be available for use by the local community.
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Q12. What will happen to the old site/facility once the new one is built?
The existing Energy from Waste facility will be removed, and the site will be turned into a green open space for use by the local community.
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Q13. What about traffic?
A detailed breakdown and analysis of traffic movements will be provided as part of the planning application. Currently the existing site sees 180 movements a day (90 lorries) and figures show that this will remain roughly the same – as some will be brought in by bulk.
Under the Outline Planning Application, there is no intention to change the route of public traffic movements. For heavy goods and refuse collection vehicles we are proposing that they enter the site through the existing council depot on the London Road and exit through Bar Road. This will reduce the traffic movements on Bar Road.
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Q14. How can I have my say?
Once the Outline Planning Application is submitted to Coventry City Council (the ‘Planning Authority’) they will need to undergo a formal consultation process. You will be able to view the application at the Council’s offices or on-line and we will also make it available on the Project Transform website at www.projecttransform.info.
You will be able to tell the Council what you think of the application and you can do this by emailing planning@coventry.gov.uk or writing to Coventry City Council.
Once the formal consultation is over, the Planning Case Officer will write a report on the application with recommendations for either approval or refusal of the application. The report will then be reviewed by the Planning Committee at one of their meetings. It is possible to give your opinion and speak at this Planning Committee meeting but arrangements need to be made beforehand.
Planning and Strategic Transportation
Development Management
Customer Support
Civic Centre 4
Much Park Street
Coventry
CV1 2PY
E-mail: planning@coventry.gov.uk
Telephone: 024 7683 1212 or 024 7683 1213
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Q15. How can I find out more about Project Transform?
There is more information about the Project on our website www.projecttransform.info. You can also sign up to receive our e-newsletter on our website. If you don’t have access to the web or email you can write to us at:
Project Transform Project Office
c/o Environment & Economy
Warwickshire County Council
PO Box 43
Shire Hall
Warwick
CV34 4SX
Or call us on 01926 412628
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Q16. Are there other organisations that can offer advice about planning?
Planning Aid England provide free, independent and professional help, advice and support on planning issues to people and communities. The service is delivered through a small staff team and a network of volunteers, the majority of whom are Chartered Town Planners, who give their time free of charge. Planning Aid also works with developers, local authorities and others to help raise the standard of community engagement on planning matters.
How to contact Planning Aid:
Advice Line General Enquiries
National Office: 0121 214 2900
West Midlands: 0121 236 8876, 0121 236 8890
Full contact details for Planning Aid Services.
Planning Portal
This is a Government site that provides information on all aspects of the planning system including details of how to find out about local developments and local policies and the processes to follow to input into the planning process:.
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