Wakefield Council has lost its legal battle to stop waste tipping at Welbeck Landfill Site, following a five-day public inquiry. The Planning Inspectorate ruled in favour of site operators Welbeck Waste Management Ltd (WWML), allowing operations to continue until 2025.
WWML appealed after the council rejected its application in November 2023 to extend tipping for two more years. The company argued that reduced landfill volumes had delayed the site’s completion. The council cited concerns over the impact on residents and biodiversity.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, funded by the BBC, planning inspector Jason Whitfield found that extending operations would not harm the environment or local residents. He stated that further filling was necessary to prevent long-term pollution risks.
Wakefield Council has also been ordered to cover WWML’s legal costs, after the inspector ruled the council had acted unreasonably. A financial report from September 2023 estimated the council’s own legal expenses at £200,000.
