The first stage of an independent inspection of a major waste plan that would involve building a huge new plant in Frien Barnet and Muswell Hill begins tomorrow.

A preliminary meeting of the Planning Inspectorate’s public examination of the North London Waste Plan will be held at Camden Town Hall to finalise the details of a week-long public hearing in June.

Hundreds of people and organisations affected by the plan have applied to speak at the summer’s hearings, which will assess whether the plan, which includes building a massive facility in Pinkham Way dealing with about 300,000 tonnes of waste each year, is viable and consistent with Government policy.

The plan also sets out future planning policies for waste management in north London for the next 15 years.

Campaigners protested outside Haringey, Enfield and Barnet Councils last year against the idea of building the plant at Pinkham Way, arguing it would bring heavy traffic to an already gridlocked A406 and affect air quality.

Under the current plans, Pinkham Way would deal with waste from seven boroughs across north London, and be home to a fleet of waste trucks from Barnet Council.

Haringey Council agreed to delay a decision on planning permission last year until after another independent planning inspector provided a more detailed report on the plant, but Enfield and Barnet Councils have already waved through the plans.