We have extensive experience in challenging waste-related development and operations including proposed waste incinerators, anaerobic digestors and agricultural muck storage and spreading.
Waste-related operations can be a source of discontent for individuals and communities because of the associated issues of odour, traffic, pollution, noise and other impacts that are often part-and-parcel of waste processing. There are also climate concerns.
We are frequently deployed to write objection letters on behalf of our clients to challenge proposed schemes and have contributed to planning permissions being refused. We have also successfully challenged grants of planning permission for waste-related operations in court, including one controversial incinerator intended experimentally to operate at unusually high temperatures.
Sometimes clients approach us well after planning permission has been granted and a waste scheme is already operational, in which case we are able to consider continuing breaches of planning and environmental permits, as well as issues of nuisance where appropriate.
Meet the team
Please get in touch to speak to a member of the team if you have a problem relating to a proposed or existing waste operation.
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Example Cases
Shadingfield Intensive Poultry Unit
R (Keating) v East Suffolk Council
Successful challenge to industrial "broiler" chicken farm in East Suffolk.
Challenge to Bedfordshire EfW facility permit
R. (oao BACI Bedfordshire Ltd) v Environment Agency
Court of Appeal finds that scientific error does not invalidate EfW permit.
Keighley EfW incinerator permission challenge
R. (oao Shimbles) v City of Bradford MDC & anr
Judicial review of incinerator on grounds of heritage harm and impacts on SAC.
Great Dunmow waste transfer station challenge
R (Hockley) v Essex County Council
Challenge to inconsistency of application with development plan & EIA screening