Desalination plant, Beckton

On 26 April 2006 the Mayor made his submission to the Public Inquiry into Thames Water’s plans for a £200 million desalination plant at Beckton. He is calling on Thames Water to improve its record on fixing water leaks, instead of building a high energy-consuming desalination plant which will increase London’s contribution to climate change. In the year 2004/5 leakage in Thames Water's area was 915 million litres of water a day.

The Mayor's proof of evidence submission PDF
The Mayor's proof of evidence submission RTF

Read a press release about the Mayor's submission.

Public Inquiry

The Public Inquiry began on 23 May 2006 at the Meridian Business Centre at City Airport.

The Mayor's Opening Submission to the Inquiry PDF
The Mayor's Opening Submission to the Inquiry RTF

The Mayor's Closing submission to the Inquiry PDF
The Mayor's Closing submission to the Inquiry RTF

Background to the Inquiry

In June 2004 Thames Water applied to the London Borough of Newham for planning permission to erect a desalination plant. The proposed site is within the operational boundaries of its Beckton Sewage Treatment Works site, which falls within Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) which is unique to London and has the same protection as Green Belt land.

As the proposed development involved the construction of a building of more than 1000 sq. metres on land designated as MOL, Newham Council consulted the Mayor, who responded that the proposed development was unacceptable in principle having regard to strategic planning policy. He also concluded that the development was contrary to the objective of encouraging the sustainable management of water resources in London as the plant was a highly energy intensive method of producing water.

In March 2005 the Mayor was notified that Newham Council was nonetheless minded to grant planning permission for the plant. Following consideration of a further report on the project, on 14 April the Mayor directed Newham Council to refuse planning permission. His letter states that:
“The application does not deliver the sustainable and efficient management of water supplies in London and is contrary to Policy 4A.11 of the London Plan 'Water Supplies' which seeks to minimise the use of treated water and maximise rainwater harvesting opportunities and as such the proposed development is not in the interests of good strategic planning in London.”

Newham Council issued a Notice of Refusal, against which Thames Water lodged an appeal.

The Mayor's planning decisions

Documents from the Mayor's planning decisions meetings, at which he considers applications of strategic importance referred to him by the London boroughs, are available on this website. Reports relating to the statutory referral of the proposed Beckton desalination plant may be accessed below:

Stage 2 - Mayor may direct refusal - 14 April 2005

Stage 1 - Mayor's initial representation - 13 October 2004

Planning and Development

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