​Hillingdon Council has approved a change of use from pasture to waste management (composting) at High View Farm, Harefield.
Composting is an industrial use that is not usually considered appropriate in a Green Belt location. Therefore, extending the maturation site for composting contradicts the Local Plan Policy and constitutes inappropriate development within the Green Belt. Thus, ‘very special circumstances’ must be demonstrated.
 The proposal would significantly contribute (75,000 tonnes per annum) to the Government’s policy on climate change, which the National Planning Policy Framework confirms is central to sustainable development. In addition, planning policies aim to increase green waste recycling in line with the Government’s Waste Strategy. The proposed development would continue to significantly contribute to waste management in Hillingdon and the surrounding area of West London and maximise the diversion of waste from landfills, meeting the Mayor’s recycling and composting targets for the London region.
Additionally, the proposal would deliver the following:
- Operational need to extend the compost maturation yard (related to compliance with updated Environment Agency guidance requiring a reduction in fire risk and to minimise odour generation and the cessation of the In-vessel composting (IVC) facility/ food waste recycling and an increase in green waste recycling).
- Waste management capacity and need.
- Environmental benefits include sustainable waste management, landfill diversion, maintaining recycling/recovery rates, waste hierarchy, and climate change.
The proposal ensures the sustainability of an existing rural-based business and promises to maintain and increase employment opportunities, demonstrating its economic viability and sustainability.
Photo by Edward Howell on Unsplash
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