Agenda item

The Director – Public Services gave an update on the progression of plans for the expansion of Stansted Airport. He said Stansted Airport Limited had submitted its scoping request on 2 June. Officers and the Manchester Airport Group had been reviewing responses to the consultation on the scoping request. The Council had instructed a barrister from the aviation and aerospace group in 39 Essex Chambers to assist it in this task, and was also in the process of engaging consultants with expertise in air quality and noise.

Additionally, discussions had taken place with the Manchester Airport Group regarding the timeframe for submission of the planning application, the application’s assessment, and its determination. The group had now come to a view as to what it would be applying for. It had not yet settled on arrangements for announcing this decision, although it was expected to do so shortly. Following that, the group would then formally write to the Council to clarify its planning proposals.

A land side tour and presentation on the application to members by STAL was being arranged for a date towards the end of October. The application itself was likely to be submitted in the new year.

In response to questions from members, the Director – Public Policy said there were drivers for further significant investment in the airport, and plans for expansion would represent such investment.

Members said safety of access to the airport from Takeley was an issue. The pedestrian footpath terminating at the boundary of the airport meant people had to walk through the airport grounds without a designated path. Signage for the drop-off site was also poor, and unfavourable parking conditions meant some customers choose to park their cars on streets in Dunmow. These problems would only be exacerbated by further expansion without a major review.

In response to a question from the Chairman asking how surface access would be addressed by the Manchester Airport Group, the Planning Policy/Development Management Liaison Officer said the aim was for the airport to have a number of headline targets and set priorities against these targets. Such actions could possibly include accommodating public transport growth while improving its overall quality, reducing single car usage by staff and reducing kiss and fly movements.

Councillor Lemon said flights still passed over Hatfield Heath, meaning they were deviating from their flightpath.

The Chairman said Manchester Airport Group’s application would have to be examined in terms of national aviation strategy and as a commercial application. The Director – Public Services said the expectation was that there was additional market demand which could be met by expansion at Stansted. The airport was the only airport in the London area with significant runway capacity available to meet such demand. The Chairman said the runway was however running at capacity at peak times and any increase in night flights might be an issue with local residents.

Members noted the availability of late night transport from the airport had been an issue in the past, and further increases in night flights could put the service under greater pressure. The Border Force should be able to take into account the number of flights it knew to be landing when scheduling its resources.

Members said it would be useful to see dispersal data, showing where outgoing passengers were travelling to, and where incoming passengers were going after landing.

In response to a question from Councillor Ryles, the Director – Public Services said the Council had the opportunity to communicate with other councils that had airports in their districts through the Local Government Association Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group.

In response to a question about business rates generated by the airport, the Director – Public Services said the government was proposing to exclude the business rates on national infrastructure assets from being retained locally.

The Director – Public Services said consultants for reviewing the scoping request would likely be appointed by the end of October, and the review would be completed before Christmas.

The Chairman summarised that the Panel was concerned about various issues, including surface access and passenger transport from the surrounding areas.