London City Airport considering a Compulsory Purchase of Royal Docks Waterway and land
London City Airport have notified the GLA and the Planning Inspectorate they are considering Compulsory Purchase Order against the Mayor of London to own the nearly 20 hectares of land and Royal Docks Waterway, which it needs for its huge expansion plans. The airport has discussed these plans with the DfT with a view that any CPO be considered at the Planning Inspectorates Public Inquiry into the Mayor’s expansion refusal. That inquiry is due to be heard in the first quarter of 2016. The enquiry could be extended to consider the CPO. The publicly owned land is the responsibility of the London Mayor. The Docks are part of the Blue Ribbon Network protected by the London Plan. A 3-week consultation into the purchase would also have to be carried out. An attempted land grab by London City Airport’s hedge fund owners, GIP, would be unprecedented – if approved -and could see all the Mayor’s Public land assets under attack from private developers. GIP is understood to be keen to sell London City Airport soon, but want planning consent for expansion first, to increase the price to perhaps£1.25 billion. GIP also want a 2nd Gatwick runway. Both would raise the price at sale.
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London City Airport considering a Compulsory Purchase of Royal Docks Waterway and land from Mayor of London Boris Johnson
26.6.2015 (Stop City Airport Masterplan)
London City Airport have notified the GLA and the Planning Inspectorate they are considering Compulsory Purchase Order against the Mayor of London Boris Johnson to own the nearly 20 hectares of land and Royal Docks Waterway which it needs for its huge expansion.
The Airport has discussed these plans with the Department of Transport with a view that any CPO be considered at the Planning Inspectorates Public Enquiry into the Mayor’s expansion refusal.
The CPO could make up part of the Planning Inspectorate Public Enquiry into that expansion refusal due to be heard in the first quarter of 2016. The enquiry could be extended to consider the Purchase.
The publicly owned land is the responsibility of the London Mayor. The Docks are part of the Blue Ribbon Network protected by the London Plan. A three week consultation into the purchase would also have to be carried out.
An attempted land grab by London City Airports hedge fund owners, Global Infrastructure Partners would be unprecedented if approved and could see all the Mayor’s Public land assets under attack from private developers.
It is widely believed that London City Airport’s owners GIP are desperate to sell the airport with planning consent, to push the value over £1.25 billion mark. Currently the airport would not fetch much more than the £742m, the price GIP paid in 2006.
Global Infrastructure Partners are also the owners of Gatwick and plan to build a second runway at the airport.
Alan Haughton @stopcityairport said
“The sheer unfettered greed of London City Airport for expansion is undiminished even after the Mayors rightful refusal. To now consider the CPO of public land only shows the depths that these hedge funds will go to to sweat their assets for incredible profits. Global Infrastructure Partners are showing their true colours and residents, politicians and the Davies Commission should take note when considering a second runway at Gatwick.”
Link to Inspectorate application
The information is from an email from the Mayors office informing them of the plans. No details have been given to the Mayor himself, who is being bypassed.
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London City Airport challenges Boris’ decision to block its expansion plans, over ‘noise ghetto’ fears
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