NEWS RELEASE
Date: 6 December 2007
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Local waste projects go forward to next PFI round
Seven projects for dealing with England’s waste moved a step closer to securing Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding today.
The projects have been given the go ahead for the next stage of the PFI process after applying to Defra’s Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme (WIDP) for PFI credits.
Environment Minister Joan Ruddock said:
“Each of these projects plans to deliver major waste infrastructure to help reduce the amount of England’s waste ending up in landfill. This reduction is an essential part of the drive to tackle climate change and meet the UK’s landfill targets.”
The successful authorities are:
- Norfolk County Council
- Milton Keynes Council & Northamptonshire County Council
- Gloucestershire County Council
- Essex County Council & Southend Borough Council
- Leicestershire County Council
- Lincolnshire County Council
- Staffordshire County Council
The authorities must now submit their Outline Business Cases (OBC) by 30 April 2008. If approved, the schemes will be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union in Autumn 2008.
Two further projects - the North London Waste Authority, and Plymouth City Council together with Devon County Council and Torbay County Council - may still join the award round. They have been asked to review progress early in the New Year to assess whether they can submit their OBCs by April 2008.
The closing date for Expressions of Interest in the next PFI award round is 31 March 2008. This is likely to be the last of the rounds under the current Comprehensive Spending Review £2 billion allocation. Successful authorities will be required to submit their OBC by October 2008 with approval expected in the winter. Current applications for PFI credits must have a recycling rate equal to, or in excess of, the national target of 50% by 2020.
Defra was given a further £2 billion of funding through PFI credits in the recent Comprehensive Spending Review which will be available to help local authorities invest in sustainable waste management options. The PFI credits will rise from £280 million in 2007/08 to £600 million in 2008/09, £700 million in 2009/10 and £700 million in 2010/11.
Notes to editors
To date Defra has committed over £1bn to support 23 waste PFI projects. There are currently 15 waste PFI projects in operation and 8 in procurement.
WIDP brings together the project delivery activities of Defra’s Waste Implementation Programme, Partnerships UK and 4Ps. The programme was established to help accelerate the delivery of the major infrastructure required to treat residual waste without compromising efforts to minimise waste and increase recycling levels.
WIDP provides local authorities with high quality comprehensive support to ensure that the infrastructure requirement is met - including financial help through PFI credits where appropriate, support through the WIDP Transactors, and financial support through the New Technology, Local Authority Support Unit and Waste Data programmes.
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Page published: 6 December 2007