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Potential grant funding for councils to remove barriers to
redevelop land and promote regeneration of
communities
Councils across England could
soon receive grants to help transform underused and derelict
sites.
Under plans announced by the
Government today (21 July), the grants would refund the costs
of Landfill Tax where it acts as a barrier to
redeveloping brownfield and contaminated land.
A four-week Call for Evidence
will seek views on the need for, and design of, a scheme to
support councils overcome the Landfill Tax
burden.
The move - which could happen
as early as this Autumn - would help build more homes and
businesses on brownfield sites, protecting the environment
and public health.
Environment Minister
said:
“This grant will help councils
build new homes and businesses on derelict eyesore sites –
delivering more homes, and regenerating towns and
cities.
“Landfill tax has done a
fantastic job in preventing unnecessary waste – but it’s
important it doesn’t act as a barrier to
regeneration.”
Exchequer Secretary to
the Treasury
said:
“Ensuring that communities
across England have the tools to transform their local areas is
central to our levelling up mission.
“I’m delighted that we’re
exploring this bold new scheme which could remove unintended
barriers for local authorities who want the best for their
communities, whilst protecting our natural environment from
contamination.”
Landfill tax was introduced in
1996 to encourage a shift away from sending waste to landfill and
towards recycling, reuse and recovery. It is currently valued at
£98.60 per tonne with a lower rate of £3.15 for the least
polluting material.
Landfill tax is widely regarded
as being successful, with local authority waste sent to landfill
in England falling by 90% since 2000. However, in some cases
where remediating contaminated land is not possible without
sending waste to landfill, the tax can act as a significant
barrier to redevelopment.
By targeting grants in
instances where Landfill Tax would otherwise have prevented
remediation on commercial terms, any scheme would seek to be
cost-neutral.
The Call for Evidence welcomes
views on how to ensure a grant scheme would not undermine the
waste hierarchy or incentivise illegal dumping. Under plans,
applicants would need to demonstrate that use of landfill is
reasonably necessary, and steps have been taken to minimise the
quantity of waste that will be landfilled.
ENDS
Notes to
editors:
- Initial thinking is that the scheme would be open to local
authorities (including combined authorities), government
departments and their agencies.
- Limiting the eligibility to local authorities would help
reduce risks of poor value for money subsidies to private
companies or fraud. The Call for Evidence will seek views on
whether the scheme should extend beyond local authorities.
- This builds on several waste reforms that we have already
announced and consulted on. Digital waste tracking will mean
those handling waste will record information from the point waste
is produced to the stage it is disposed of, recycled or reused,
making it easier for regulators to detect illegal activity and
tackle fly-tipping and other waste crime.
- Our reform of the licensing system for waste carriers,
brokers and dealers will increase the competence and background
checks needed to operate as a waste carrier, broker or dealer,
and make it easier for regulators to enforce against
non-compliant operators whilst making it harder for un-registered
operators to find work in the sector.
- Our landmark Environment Act has
also given us a raft of new powers to step-up our war against
waste in the UK.
- Our planned deposit return scheme will ensure billions more
drinks bottles and cans are returned to shops and recycled, while
proposals for consistent recycling collections across England
will end the confusion for millions of homes and businesses of
having different materials collected in different areas.
