Bestway (subject to Compulsory Purchase Order at Brent Cross) tries to 'stir it'

To: FCC Skanska (Formento de Construcciones y Contratas SA and
Skanska Infrastructure Development UK Ltd) (consortium) [and two others on the first NLWA shortlist]

and
To: Covanta Energy Ltd. (UK) [and two others on the other NLWA shortlist]

North London Waste – (Treatment & Fuel Use Contract)

We understand that your consortium is one of the three remaining bidders that has been chosen to develop solutions to provide modern sustainable

waste facilities for long term waste / fuel services 

or

energy generation from the use of a solid recovered fuel (SRF) 

for the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) and we are aware that any bidder in your position will want to secure such a contract, by demonstrating how to deliver the required services, in a compliant and lawful manner, and for the lowest price.

To achieve the above, you will need to become the NLWA’s preferred bidder, and to demonstrate your credentials to achieve this milestone.

We hope that you don’t mind, but we have attached information and background that should guide your approach to a very important aspect of this process, namely, avoiding the inevitable and serious issue of trying to acquire the Bestway site. Everyone knows that this will be difficult and expensive at best, with delays to your delivery programme, and at worst, simply impossible to achieve.

At best, it will involve cost and serious delay, and I can assure you that at worst, this site will never be secured, as we will do everything possible to achieve the latter.

We trust you will consider this matter with the importance it deserves, and will no doubt concur that there are better, more practical, deliverable, and operationally preferable site options, within the NLWA area (than our site on the western boundary).

Bestway operate a highly successful cash and carry depot currently at Geron Way [Brent Cross] and this is one of the most profitable within the group, as part of what is nearly £2.3bn of turnover.

We have absolutely no reason to move from our current Geron Way site, and we continue to challenge the NLWA and the recently published NL Waste Plan which promotes our site as appropriate to replace the Hendon Rail Transfer Station. It is totally perverse that this site has been chosen and still pursued, contrary to the technically flawed selection being exposed some time ago, and put on public record.

We have a team of planning, waste, transport, environmental, and other technical experts, supported by our respective solicitors and QC’s to fully support our work.

Stretton’s Chartered Surveyors have been working with us on site finding and analysis of suitable waste facility sites in the NLWA area,, and we have found several more suitable and appropriate sites on which we are undertaking more detailed analysis, based on extensive information and context. To illustrate this, we enclose a copy of a schedule of all potential alternative sites for a waste facility.

We would urge you to study these sites. We stress that the extensive information we have behind this work illustrates that the Geron Way site is not viable or appropriate, in the context of the large number of suitable and appropriate sites we have identified. We will be happy to share this information with you in the context of any proposals you are preparing.

We have further work to do regarding this matter, and we will be bringing all this information to bear during the current NLWP consultation process, and will demonstrate that the site selection is clearly unsound. We will take this through to public examination before an Inspector.

Map 2: All Identified Potential Waste Sites

1. Solar Way, Enfield, EN3 7XY
2. Bilton Way, Ponders End, EN3 6EW
3. Oakleigh Road South, New Southgate, N11 1HJ
4. Great Cambridge Road, Waltham Cross, EN8 8DY
5. Regis Road, Kentish Town, NW5 3ED
6. Clarendon Road, Wood Green, N22 6XJ
7. Albert Road, East Barnet, EN4 9SH
8. Argall Avenue, Leyton, E10 7QP
9. Markfield Road, Tottenham, N15 4QA
10. White Hart Goods Yard, White Hart Lane, Tottenham, N17 8DP
11. Highgate Road, Gospel Oak, NW5 1TN
12. Bridge Road, Wood Green, N22 7SN
13. Cranbourne Road Industrial Estate, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar EN6 3JN*
14. Lea Interchange, 151 Ruckholt Road, E15 2EN
15. Kenninghall Road, Edmonton, N18 2PD
16. 37a Pemberton Terrace, N19 5RR. Bush Ind Est, Station Road, N19 5UN
17. Cranford Way Industrial Estate, Tottenham Lane, N8 9DG
18. London Gateway Services via Ellesmere Avenue, Mill Hill, NW7 3HB
19. Hannah Close, Wembley*
20. Picketts Lock Lane, Edmonton
21. G Park, Mollison Avenue, Enfield
22. JVC site Harp View Business Park, Priestley Way, Hendon*
23. View 406, Advent Way, Edmonton
24. Former Gas Holders, Leeside Road, Edmonton
25. Leeside Industrial Estate, Leeside Road, Edmonton
26. Edmonton Eco Park, Advent Way, Edmonton
27. Greenstar MRF, Lee Park Way, Edmonton
28. Rigg Approach, Leyton
29. Camden Plant, Lower Hall Lane, Advent Way, Edmonton
30. Martinbridge Industrial Estate, Lincoln Way, Enfield
31. Navigation Park, Morson Road, Enfield
32. Garrick Industrial Estate, Garrick Road, Colindale
33. Leeside Trading Estate, Garman Road, Edmonton
34. Mowlem Trading Estate, Leeside Road, Edmonton
35. Angel Works, Advent Way, Edmonton
36. Aerodrome Road, Colindale
37. Victory Park, Cricklewood
38. Kynoch Road, Edmonton
39. Nobel Road, Edmonton
40. Marsh Lane, Tottenham
41. Willesden Euroterminal, Old Oak Common, Willesden*
42. ex-Eurostar North Star depot, Scrubs Lane, North Kensington*

* Not in NLWA area

This evidence, including extensive further background, clearly indicates that it is neither in your or the public interest to pursue the Geron Way site, and it should be ruled out now, well in advance of any CPO consideration.

In summary, the tendering process puts the onus on you to deal with such delivery issues, not the NLWA, which is just backing up its now outdated Outline Business Case. We therefore strongly suggest that, when you are preparing your strategy for delivery, you seriously consider the above, and promptly withdraw our site from any further consideration.

Yours sincerely, BESTWAY