Issue details

•         Reason for the decision

To secure new leasing arrangements for KCC to enable sustainable waste disposal operations through the provision of a new Waste Transfer Station. To provide enhanced capacity that is fit for purpose whilst accommodating future legislative changes.

•         Background

A Waste Transfer Station has been located at Dunbrik, Sevenoaks since 1992. It is used for the bulking of household waste collected by Sevenoaks District Council; the site also receives quantities of trade waste on a commercial basis.

The transfer station is small and logistically limited in that there is insufficient capacity to receive all waste arisings collected by the District as the Waste Collection Authority. Alternative, but unsustainable arrangements exist at different locations to receive and bulk the local authority’s garden waste and some recycled materials. In addition to this, the Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy is expected  to mandate the separate collection of food waste from 2023 by the District Council, therefore the Kent County Council must make provision for this as part of its statutory undertaking as Waste Disposal Authority (WDA).

Further to this, the current facility is also unsustainable in terms of its ability to receive additional waste arisings expected as a result of planned housing growth within the district.

The landlord has existing planning consent to develop a new, much larger facility at the site for KCC’s use, although non-material, minor amendments would require further approval  by KCC’s Planning which is most likely to be administered via Officer delegation.  

An existing lease for the Transfer Station is in place until  2030, This lease will be relinquished and replaced by a new lease upon the completion of the new development, the current lease costs will be held until 2030 and to budget. In order that the Landlord recovers the capital investment, the term of the lease will extend for up to thirty years.

•         Options (other options considered but discarded)

Over recent years KCC has investigated the potential of developing a Waste Transfer Station in alternative locals within the District but given the extent  of the green belt within the District, there are no viable alternative locations to develop a new site. The proximity to the capital and strategic road network makes this area highly desirable and costly which prohibits viable alternative arrangements.

Dunbrik has excellent transport links and is also sited closely to the waste transport depot for waste vehicles belonging to the District Council.

KCC does not have alternate waste sites outside the immediate border to support the District, and even if these were available compensatory revenue payments would be due to the Collection Authority due to additional travel – these would create an unnecessary higher carbon footprint.