PIONEERING planning procedures obliging developers to think about waste and recycling on new estates, have won regional acclaim for a team of Wiltshire County Council planners.

The team prepared the Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Local Plan and came up with the idea of creating supplementary planning guidance for every new development of more than ten homes.

"It means all developers will have to carry out a waste audit and consider recycling facilities as part of their planning applications," said waste local plan team leader Andy Conn.

"The way we deal with our waste is high on everyone's agenda and this new guidance underlines that commitment."

Now the guidance, which has the backing of the district councils, has won a commendation at the RTPI South West regional planning awards.

"We are delighted we really think this planning guidance will help developers get to grips with waste," said Mr Conn.

Coun Toby Sturgis, cabinet member for environmental planning and waste, said: "It is great news that Wiltshire has been recognised for this work. It is timely and clearly mirrors the concerns we all have about the best ways of dealing with waste management."