Posted on Wednesday 24th September 2025
A planning application for a waste treatment facility near Stafford will still be heard by a county council committee next week despite an appeal being made by the applicant.
The application by Inwaste Hixon Ltd for the facility in Hixon will be considered by members of the county council’s planning committee next Thursday 2 October for a decision. However, the applicant has appealed to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate against the county council for failure to make a decision on the application within the statutory period or agreed extended period (non-determination).
The reason for this, as set out in the report, is that the county council sought additional information from the applicant, had to go through an election and by-election where public consultation was prohibited and all new members of the planning committee had to undergo induction training before their first meeting, as well as additional training on mineral and waste planning matters.
This means the Planning Inspectorate will now make any final decision on the application. To support it in making a decision, the inspectorate still needs an indication of the county council committee decision.
County council planning officers have recommended refusal of the application.
The county council will now send notification of planning appeal letters and emails to interested parties (consultees and representees). The Planning Inspectorate deadline for comments on the appeal is 22 October 2025 (All representations must quote the appeal reference APP/D3450/W/25/3371472).
Next Thursday’s meeting will be webcast live. People can follow the meeting and view the agenda on the meeting webpage.
People can read the full application, including all associated documents on the county council’s planning application webpage.