Another day. Another bonkers idea. A 4-runway Luton. Proposed by architects. Airport says it is unworkable
Why does the Evening Standard keep doing it? At least every week, there is another story about some sort of science-fiction type airport proposal. Barely thought through. Barely plausible. This time is the turn of Luton to have 4 runways proposed by a firm of architects, Weston Williamson – which seems to have mainly worked on railway stations in the past, in terms of transport projects. The scheme’s backers claim that, of the capital’s six airports, only Luton has good enough UK-wide links to make it a nationally accessible hub, next to the M1 and on the high-speed Midlands rail line to St Pancras as well the Thameslink route to central London and the south coast. A spokesperson for London Luton Airport Ltd, said: “We don’t think these plans are workable.The idea of a new airport immediately to the south of Luton was first raised in a 2002 masterplan which was subsequently found to be unrealistic, largely because of the cost and the site’s valley location.” They were “setting themselves apart” from the proposal. The topography is not suitable.
Heathrow battle: How Luton could be ‘England’s airport’
– Proposal for a nationwide hub with four runways is unveiled
Weston Williamson’s proposals follow a report by think tank Policy Exchange last month, which called Luton the “next best option” after Heathrow for increasing airport capacity in the UK. London Luton Airport Ltd will submit its own planning application next month for expanding capacity to 18 million a year.
Heathrow battle: How Luton could be ‘England’s airport’
24 October 2012
Plans to turn Luton into a huge four-runway “England airport” are unveiled today as the latest possible solution to the crisis in aviation capacity.
The scheme’s backers claim that, of the capital’s six airports, only Luton has good enough UK-wide links to make it a nationally accessible hub.
The town is next to the M1 and on the high-speed Midlands rail line to St Pancras as well the Thameslink route to central London and the south coast.
London architects Weston Williamson said that if the multi-billion-pound plan went ahead there would also have to be a new road linking the M1 and the A1, as well as a new “Crossrail 2” with a 25-minute journey time to Euston.
The new airport would be able to serve about 150 million passengers a year, more than twice Heathrow’s current capacity. The existing terminal would become a servicing area.
There are likely to be huge objections from residents — and a potential clash with Stansted’s airspace that could mean the Essex airport having to shut.
Chris Williamson of Weston Williamson, which has designed Paddington’s new Crossrail station, told the Architects’ Journal that Luton is the “sensible location” for the UK’s largest airport hub, adding: “A new four-runway airport there is by far the best solution.
“Thameslink and the new north-south Crossrail 2 would link directly to the terminals, with 25-minute direct trips to Euston. Anyone coming from the North or Midlands can get there by car or the planned improved train links.
“Why would you choose Stansted stuck out in the East? It has a good spur link to Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale but nowhere else.”
The operators of Luton airport, which is owned by the council, recently unveiled expansion plans to increase its capacity to 18 million.
The latest scheme has emerged days after a similar four-runway plan for Stansted and follows an announcement from Gatwick that it is considering a second runway. There are also several alternative versions of a “Boris Island” airport in the Thames Estuary.
Fiona McGlone, of London Luton Airport Ltd, said: “We don’t think these plans are workable. The idea of a new airport immediately to the south of Luton was first raised in a 2002 masterplan which was subsequently found to be unrealistic, largely because of the cost and the site’s valley location. While we recognised the need for a UK hub airport to be located in the South-East, neither this site’s topography nor the current airport is suited to the requirement.”
The Government is facing increasing pressure to find a quick solution to the runway shortage but has deferred making a decision until after the 2015 election.
A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor has been arguing for some time now that we need a new four-runway hub airport if we are to protect jobs and stimulate growth in London and the south-east.
“The site of Luton Airport presents formidable challenges to major expansion, but the Mayor welcomes in principle a further contribution to the debate. His chief concern is currently that the Government is not proceeding with the urgency the impending capacity crisis requires. The principal findings of the Davies Commission should be delivered in the course of next year, not delayed until 2015.”
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Computer says ‘yes’ to Luton Airport vision
Thursday 25 October 2012 (Luton Today)
A firm of architects have set out their vision for a four-runway Luton Airport with the capacity for 150 million passengers a year.
Weston Williamson’s proposals follow a report by think tank Policy Exchange last month, which called Luton the “next best option” after Heathrow for increasing airport capacity in the UK.
London Luton Airport Ltd will submit its own planning application next month for expanding capacity to 18 million a year.
But Weston Williamson director Rob Naybour said Luton was “a site with fantastic potential and connectivity”, and that a four-runway hub could solve London’s “aviation bottleneck”.
Its proposals follow designs from other firms for expansion at Stansted and a new ‘Boris Island’ airport in the Thames Estuary.
Included in the proposals are a link from the new terminals to Crossrail 2 and a new road link between the M1 and the A1.
It says the existing terminal would become a servicing/technical area, and that the expansion would mean a “minimal loss of homes”.
Practice founder Chris Williamson said: “Luton is the sensible location. Anyone coming from the north or Midlands can get there by car or the planned improved train links.
“We are currently working on Crossrail 2 and would advocate taking that into the heart of the airport.
“If you programmed a computer to position the best place for a world class airport, it would choose Luton.”
A spokesman for London Luton Airport Ltd said: “We are setting ourselves apart from this. We have consulted on our plans to expand to 18 million passengers a year and an application will be going in next month.”