Aviation Strategy

Written Evidence From LONDON ASHFORD AIRPORT Ltd (lydd airport) (AS 124)

Thank you for the opportunity to submit written evidence to the Committee on the proposed Aviation Strategy. This letter is submitted on behalf of our client, London Ashford Airport Limited (LAA).

Summary

 

LAA plays a valuable role in meeting local demand for air travel. There are current plans to expand it to accommodate up to 500,000 passengers per annum, helping to meet the demand for capacity in the South East. The Airport’s expansion will create 200 new jobs, promote inward investment, bring benefits to local companies and boost regional economic growth.

In short, LAA supports the draft Framework’s approach of making better use of existing airports, including small airports such as LAA.

Background

 

LAA is an existing operational airport located at Lydd, Kent. The Airport has been operating since the 1950s. It is an important source of employment. It currently handles approximately 22,000 aircraft movements a year and acts primarily as a base for general and business aviation, including air taxi and business aviation operations, aircraft maintenance and a flying school.

LAA is currently awaiting the outcome of a call-in Inquiry into two planning applications. The first (PINs ref: APP/L2250/V/10/2131934) proposes to extend the existing runway. The second (PINs ref: APP/L2250/V/10/2131936) proposes the construction of a new terminal building capable of processing up to 500,000 passengers per annum. The applications where ‘called–in’ by the Secretary of State (SoS) for determination following the Shepway Council resolving to grant planning permission for both applications in March 2010.

Although LAA is located near to a number of environmentally sensitive sites, including a SPA, a Ramsar site and a SSSI, it has been shown that its expansion would not have any significant environmental impacts. In addition, the two Dungeness Power Stations are in close proximity, but, the ONR has not objected to the applications, and an exclusion zone will continue to operate around the power stations. Both Power Stations will be either fully defueled and/or decommissioned by the time that the expanded Airport would be fully operational.

The applications will enable the Airport to make a contribution and help deliver the Government’s objectives of achieving long term economic growth through the efficient use of an existing operating airport by:

· Allowing larger commercial passenger and private business type aircraft to fly with a full payload of passengers from the Airport;

· Extending the range of aircraft can fly from the Airport;

· Maximising the availability of routes and aircraft choice to operators;

· Improving the efficiency of aircraft runway operations in adverse weather (the longer runway will give pilots more flexibility to optimise aircraft performance for certain conditions e.g. in a crosswind or on a wet runway); and

· Providing a useful diversion airport, thus contributing to operational efficiency gains in the South-East.

The planned expansion at LAA, although relatively small in the context of the overall airport capacity debate, would accommodate up to 500,000 passengers per annum. Given increasing capacity constraints at the main London airports, particularly Gatwick and Heathrow, LAA will help relieve this pressure by catering for short-haul and UK domestic flights.

How should we make best use of existing aviation capacity?

LAA supports the Government’s intention to make the best use of existing airport capacity, as a general principle. The Government should make the best use of existing capacity by supporting and recognising the role that small airports can play in meeting future needs.

There are many small airports, such as LAA, that can be better utilised to help meet the demand to for general passenger travel as well as increased commercial travel. This will help relieve the pressure of other larger airports in the South East. The strategy must make explicit reference to the role that small airports can make in meeting demand.

What constraints are there on increasing UK aviation capacity?

Securing the objective of long term economic growth through the aviation sector will require infrastructure development. The primary constraint on delivering the infrastructure is the planning system. The planning process can be abused by objectors and activists who manipulate it to cause delays and unnecessary costs.

For example, the planning applications relating to LAA’s modest expansion plans were the subject of a nine month long public inquiry which closed in September 2011. The applications were submitted in 2006 and received a resolution to grant by Shepway Council in 2010. The delay in the decision making process from September to now is due largely to delays caused by the actions of two malicious objectors exploiting the decision making system to their own ends.

 The Strategy should confirm the in principle support for improving infrastructure at existing airports. The Strategy should also set out a presumption in favour of infrastructure improvements at existing airports unless there are other over-riding considerations (such as environmental constraints). This will give investors some reassurance that their proposals will be supported. It should speed up the planning process and the overall delivery of the necessary infrastructure.

In addition, the Strategy should incorporate flexibility that will allow smaller airports, such as LAA, to agree locally negotiated operational restrictions, based on local circumstances and the operator requirements.

For example, despite there being no requirement for noise mitigation, LAA is offering an extensive range of options to address the concerns of objectors, including using a noise preferential flight paths, banning night flights (which is currently unrestricted), and introducing a Noise Management Plan. The Airport has also gone further than other larger airports by agreeing to a bespoke noise insulation scheme. These measures have been agreed locally and will help to reassure the local community without compromising the viability of the Airport.

Conclusion

LAA supports the draft Framework’s approach of making better use of existing UK airports. LAA is an existing airport which could help relieve the pressure on other airports in the South East without harming the environment.

We trust that the above comments will be taken into consideration by the Committee.

February 2013