Consultation on the Proposed Submission West London Waste Plan

Overview

We are inviting comments on the final version of the West London Waste Plan (referred to as the ‘Regulation 19 Proposed Submission West London Waste Plan’) before it is submitted to the Secretary of State for Independent Examination in Public.

The West London Waste Plan sets out how the seven West London Waste Planning Authorities, Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Richmond upon Thames and the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), will plan for waste facilities and waste management sites across west London until 2041. It sets out the strategic policies for planning applications for waste related development to be assessed against, and identifies sites that will continue to be protected for waste use.

Earlier consultation on the draft Plan (Regulation 18), undertaken between December 2025 and February 2026, helped shape this Proposed Submission version.

This consultation is the final opportunity to comment on the Plan before it is submitted for examination by an independent Planning Inspector. Once adopted, the updated West London Waste Plan will replace the existing adopted West London Waste 2015 Plan.

Have your say:  

The consultation on the Proposed Submission West London Waste Plan will run from Tuesday 4 August 2026 to Monday 28 September 2026.

We would like to hear views from local residents, businesses, community organisations and other interested parties. This is the final opportunity for the public to comment on the updated West London Waste Plan. Your comments received during this consultation period will be sent on to the Planning Inspectors for the independent examination.

As this is the final consultation stage before the Plan is submitted for examination, comments should focus on whether:

• the Plan has been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements including that the Plan should be in general conformity with the London Plan; and
• Is sound when assessed against the tests set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (whether it is ‘positively prepared’, ‘justfied’, effective’ and ‘consistent’ with national policy’)

The tests of soundness are set out in the National Planning Policy Framework which is available here.

A video by the Planning Inspectorate which covers these terms is available here.

If you would like to take part in the future Examination in Public, you must submit comments during this consultation period, even if you responded to the earlier Regulation 18 consultation.

How to Take Part

Please note that Ealing Council is hosting the consultation on behalf of all seven authorities.

This is a joint consultation, with the same consultation documents and methods for responding across all participating authorities. The details are signposted from each authority’s website, as the responses will be managed jointly.

You only need to submit one response, as all comments received will be collated and considered together.

There are several ways to find out more and get involved in this consultation. Please visit the dedicated consultation webpage in order to:

• learn more about what a waste plan is;
• view the consultation documents and supporting evidence;
• find out how to submit your comments; and
• access further information about the consultation process.

The Proposed Submission West London Waste Plan and supporting documents are also available for public inspection within the borough at our Civic Centre and main libraries. 

Important Information About Your Response

Please note that we cannot accept anonymous comments or comments marked as private or confidential.

Comments received during this consultation will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate alongside the Plan and may be published as part of the examination process. Personal information will be handled in accordance with data protection legislation.

What happens next

Once the consultation has closed, the Plan, supporting evidence and all comments received will be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination. Submission is currently expected in December 2026.

At the Examination in Public, the Planning Inspector(s) will consider all comments received during the Regulation 19 consultation and examine the Plan and supporting evidence before deciding whether it meets the relevant legal requirements and can proceed towards adoption.

It is anticipated that the Plan will be adopted in Spring 2028, at which point it will replace the existing West London Waste Plan adopted in 2015.

Contact 

For any queries, please contact:

• WLWastePlan@ealing.gov.uk is the mailbox hosted by Ealing Council for responses or for any queries relating to the West London Waste Plan.
• LocalPlan@richmond.gov.uk is the mailbox to contact planning policy officers at the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames with any queries.