Two councillors have asked that plans for a waste incinerator at Hurn be taken back to BCP’s planning committee because of “a new material consideration”.

The committee approved the controversial eco composting scheme on March 8 despite more than 700 objections mainly relating concerns over the health effects.

The decision has now been issued by the council pending government approval.

But now the two members for the Commons ward, Margaret Phipps and Vanessa Ricketts have written to the council's chief operating officer, Jess Gibbons, saying the decision needs to be reconsidered because the government has just said waste going to landfill or incineration should be halved in the next 20 years.

Cllr Phipps said: “The government has announced a consultation to reduce residual waste by 2042. The new long term environmental targets were announced on March 16, and they are a cornerstone of the government’s Environment Act which passed into law in November last year.”

She said this included targets to cut air pollutant to reduce exposure to the most harmful air quality across the country and in locations where levels are highest.

The government says it wants to halve the amount of waste that goes to landfill or incineration by 2042.

She added all councils were under a legal duty to take account of all material planning considerations that they could reasonably be expected to be aware of at the time the planning notice is being issued.

“This means that as a new material consideration has arisen, and we believe that the Council need to re-consider the application in light of the new matter before they can lawfully issue the decision notice.”

Cllr Phipps said the government announcement was “a relevant and significant material consideration.”

The proposed incinerator at Eco Composting is seeking permanent planning permission and 2042 is within its operational lifetime.

Cllr Phipps added: “Therefore this proposed target is highly relevant to the question of whether or not the capacity proposed for Eco is needed.

“The development could prejudice the UK's ambitions for England to significantly improve recycling rates and reduce residual waste arisings within the operational lifetime of the proposed incinerator.

“It is clear that the Eco proposal’s case for need requires re-evaluation in light of Government ambitions.”