Choice of new site

The search for a suitable alternative site was carried out over a number of years.

The search focused on sites close to Tavistock as it is the largest town in the area. In order to comply with the ‘proximity principle’, it is appropriate to locate facilities nearest to the largest population centres where the greatest quantity of waste is produced.

Potential sites also had to:

• have good access to the road network
• be of a suitable size to accommodate a modern facility
• have potential to effectively screen/landscape the facility
• have no significant environmental constraints
• be a suitable distance from sensitive receptors
• prioritise the re-use of previously developed land

Eight sites were considered as part of the search process. Of these, the application site was the only one considered suitable.