Stansted Airport Requests Permission For Second Runway

BAA are apparently ready to submit a request to Uttlesford District Council for planning permission for a second runway at the Essex airport. The application that will be made codenamed G2 has the overall aim of increasing passenger numbers and flights. The speculation is that the second runway would increase passenger numbers at the airport to around 68 million a year by 2030 which is without doubt worrying local residents.

The plans submitted do not consist entirely of runway plans however as the new runway would require new airport buildings to be constructed, more land would be required and new motorways and bridges for them would be necessary. These plans have meant that overall BAA will be submitting four planning applications relating to these requirements.

The need for these extra facilities will mean that some residential areas would need to be demolished to make way for them and as a result there is much debate and opposition to the proposed development as well as the noise that it would create.

A spokesperson for BAA said "The Government's aviation White Paper policy is unchanged and BAA remains absolutely committed to delivering the urgently needed runway capacity in line with this policy. The Department for Transport continues to support our planning application for a second runway at Stansted and we remain confident in the case for its development."

Estimates currently indicate that the number of private homes and residences that would have to be demolished as a result of the development of the airport would be 73 in total. This has been slightly reduced from estimates in 2003 when these plans were first debated which at the time stated that around 100 homes would have to be demolished. This however is still not good news for many residents around the Stansted Airport area. In addition to this it has now been announced that only half the countryside sites that were originally threatened will continue to be in the development area.

If permission is granted for the new runway it would be located 2.2km east of the current Stansted Airport runway which is very different from the 2005 plans which called for it to be around 100 metres further away. This new option would mean that less land would need to be claimed from the Great Easton, Little Easton and Bamber's Green areas. However if the plans go ahead more roads will be required which unfortunately means land would have to be claimed from Stuart Hill, Chapel End, Belmer Road and many more in that area which is sure to cause much opposition within the local community. The SSE (Stop Stansted Expansion) have opposed these plans and will continue to fight them as they have throught every stage of the proposed Stansted Airport expansion.

A spokesperson for Uttlesford District Council said on the issue of the new runway, "we are working jointly with Essex and Hertfordshire County Councils on the second runway issue. We are confident that through joint working adequate resources will be available."

Projected costs for the development based upon an opening in 2015 would be approximately £1.4 billion with a final cost in 2030 after all development had been completed of £2.27 billion. This is significantly lower that a Government projection which estimated the final cost to be around £4 billion.

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Published by: Jon Vickery