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1. Airports Commission releases final report

   • published 1 July 2015
   • Press release

2. Airports Commission: final report

   • published 1 July 2015
   • Independent report

3. Airports Commission final report and supporting documents

   • published 1 July 2015
   • Collection

A list of documents produced with the final report on 1st July 2015.

Airports Commission consultation on air quality impact of runway schemes

(8th May to 29th May 2015).

Links to the various documents are below:

Air quality consultation cover note  (2 pages)

Air quality assessment: detailed emissions inventory and dispersion modelling  (206 pages)

Air quality assessment: figures appendix (51 pages)

Air quality assessment: spatial maps  (10 pages)

Air quality assessment: airports backing data  (multiple spreadsheets)

Coming after its final consultation, the Commission says that it had always promised more detailed analysis would follow prior to its recommendation expected this Summer. In a note accompanying the consultation paper the Commission says:

“The Commission noted that before reaching any final recommendations it would supplement the high-level air quality modelling presented for consultation with more detailed dispersion modelling to provide greater assurance about the air quality implication of each proposal and the scope for mitigation. This work is now complete and is set out in detail in the report accompanying the consultation paper.”

The Commission’s revised analysis confirms its earlier view that EU pollution limits may be exceeded at a small number of monitoring stations if either Heathrow option goes ahead.

Links to a number of responses by various groups and organisations, to the air quality consultation.

New briefing on the Airports Commission – why their runway recommendation is likely to be flawed and incomplete

29.4.2015

Before the 2010 General Election, both Conservatives and LibDems had come out against new runways in SE England. However, by September 2012 the Coalition government set up an  “Independent Commission” to look into the runway issue. Though the impression has been given that the Commission’s work is thorough, painstaking, and has assiduously covered every issue, the reality is somewhat different.  A short paper produced for AirportWatch (very readable) sets out the areas where the Commission’s analysis has not dealt with issues adequately, including key social, health and environmental costs. Some examples are that the extent of claimed economic benefits of a new runway are based on an “innovative” – ie. unproven – economic model, which leaves out the cost of noise and air pollution. There is obfuscation on climate change, where the bald fact is that any new runway would almost certainly be inconsistent with the UK’s climate target for 2050. Air quality work has not been done. The paper concludes: “… politicians and others should feel entirely free to make their own judgements about airport expansion – based if possible on genuinely independent and unbiased evidence.  They should not be influenced by recommendations from the Airports Commission. ”  

https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2015/04/new-briefing-on-the-airports-commission-why-their-runway-recommendation-is-likely-to-be-flawed-and-incomplete/

Some of the many responses that have been sent in to the Airports Commission consultation

February 8, 2015

The Airports Commission consultation on its 3 short-listed runway options closed on 3rd February 2015. Responses have been sent in from a huge number of organisations, not to mention thousands of individuals. Heathrow and Gatwick have felt it necessary to blitz the south east (and further afield) with advertising, to get people to tell the Commission they want their runway. What the Commission actually wanted in responses – other than the airports’ mass mailings – was considered comments on the 58 or so documents put out by the Commission, and comments on how they have carried out their appraisals, including things they have left out. They also ask how the runway schemes could be improved, or their negative impacts mitigated. The Commission will publish “all substantive, technical responses it has received” at the same time as it makes it recommendation on the runway some time in summer 2015. On this page, AirportWatch has put links to as many responses as possible – those which have been made public. More will follow, as we locate them …..

Click here to view full story…

Commission publishes new report on “strategic fit” for its consultation – on possible impact of runways on air travel cost

December 19, 2014

The Airports Commission has published another report to form the background information for its consultation. The consultation is on details of runway plans at two runway options at Heathrow, and one at Gatwick, and ends on 3rd February. The new document is entitled “Impacts of Expanding Airport Capacity on Competition and Connectivity – The case of Gatwick and Heathrow” and is by the International Transport Forum. It comes under the “strategic fit” category, and supports the strategic fit analysis in the consultation. By strategic fit the Commission means:”To provide additional capacity and connectivity in line with the assessment of need” and “To improve the experience of passengers and other users of aviation.” (Nothing to do with those affected by aviation impacts, but not passengers). The new document looks at possible scenarios of what might happen with either a Heathrow or Gatwick runway, and how airlines might react. While it is probable that both airports would have to put up landing charges, to pay for a runway etc, it is likely the extra runway capacity would reduce the cost of slots and therefore lead to lower fares. The extent this might happen is conjecture, as it is not possible to accurately predict airline etc behaviour in future.

Click here to view full story…

Intelligible summary of the Airports Commission consultation documents

The Airports Commission’s consultation documents on the three short-listed runway options are numerous and lengthy. But to give people an initial summary of what they say, HACAN has put together a short summary. They look at the economic claims of each (Heathrow 3rd Runway: £112bn – £211bn; Heathrow Hub: £101bn – £214bn; Gatwick: £42bn – £127bn). On jobs, the estimates vary wildly from 47,000 to 112,000. No one can say how many there will be, how well paid they will be, who will fill them and how long these jobs will last. The Commission estimates the cost of Gatwick would be £9.3 bn; cost of Heathrow Hub £13.5bn; cost of Heathrow north west runway £18.6bn. And there are many other costs, that the taxpayer would need to fund. The Commission puts the work the taxpayer would have to fund at £6.3bn for Heathrow Hub; £5.7bn for Heathrow; and £787,000 for Gatwick. The number of homes to be demolished would be at least 783 homes for Heathrow’s north west plan; 242 for Heathrow Hub; and 186 at Gatwick. On noise, the Commission expects the number in the 55 Lden contour by 2050 would be 26,000 at Gatwick; 820,000 for Heathrow north-west runway; and 1,035,100 for Heathrow Hub.

Airports Commission Consultation Briefing Explained

Dates of Commission activities during 2014:

Page 207 – 208 of https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/266668/airports-commission-interim-report.pdf 

January 16th 2014 – start of consultation on “Appraisal Framework”.  The Commission says: “This will set out details of how scheme designs should be developed and how scheme impacts will be appraised.”  This was announced at the conference in London of “Runways UK”.

January 16th – start of first consultation on Thames estuary options. “Inner Thames Estuary feasibility studies: terms of reference”

February 14th – end of consultation on draft terms of reference for Thames estuary options (started 16th January)

February 28th – end of “Appraisal Framework” consultation.

March 25th – publication by Commission of Terms of reference: inner Thames Estuary feasibility studies

March 28th: Publication of finalised Appraisal Framework (April 4th in fact)

Around end of March, or into April? – response by Government to the Commission’s interim statement.

9th May (now postponed to 14th May) –  deadline for “Refreshed scheme designs” to be submitted by runway scheme promoters, for Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

23rd May – deadline for “Inner Thames Estuary feasibility studies: call for evidence” 

May – These runway schemes may then be made public, by their proponents.?

22nd May 2014 – European elections, London borough elections and some UK local elections. Details    [Next London Mayoral election is May 2016].

July – “The Commission expects to be in a position to publish many of the study outputs (Thames estuary options) by July 2014, to ensure that any further evidence from interested parties is taken into account before a decision is made in September”

Also, July  –  The Committee on Climate Change is due to report to parliament on the progress on meeting carbon budgets. The CCC says “that would be the occasion for us to consider the report of the Davies commission.”  Details

August – ? “Deadline for views, comments, evidence and analysis on study outputs (Thames estuary options)

September 2014 – “Decision on whether inner Thames Estuary proposal is a credible option to be taken forward for detailed development work”

May to October –  “Assessments undertaken on refreshed runway scheme designs. Any assessments submitted by scheme promoters quality assured by the Commission.”

October 2014 – start of public consultation on the runway schemes. “National consultation on refreshed scheme designs and Commission’s appraisal of schemes”.

December 2014 – end of consultation.

January to May 2015 – Airports Commission goes into “purdah” considering all the information and forming its recommendation.

Summer 2015 – “Date to be confirmed: Publication of the Commission’s final recommendations.”   May be two months after the May election, (to give new government time to settle in, and give time for the Commission to finalise its report in the light of the election result?)

Airports Commission budget – £20.35 million over 4 years

Mary Creagh (Shadow Secretary of State for Transport; Wakefield, Labour)

Terms of reference: inner Thames Estuary feasibility studies

Published: 25 March 2014PDF, 277KB, 11 pages

Airports Commission publishes final version of its Appraisal Framework for short-listed runway schemes

April 2, 2014

The Airports Commission has published its final Appraisal Framework which is the document it will use to assess the 3 short-listed options for one net new additional runway. There was a consultation draft of the appraisal framework, in January. The Appraisal Framework sets out how the Commission expects the runway scheme designs to be developed, and how the schemes will be appraised by the Commission. The deadline for scheme submissions is now 14th May (not 9th). The Appraisal Framework has a list of “sift criteria categories” which are: strategic fit, economy, surface access, environment, people, cost, operational viability, and delivery. Within these categories are a list of “appraisal modules” with things like “noise, air quality, biodiversity, carbon, water and flood risk, and place” under environment. The Commission hopes “The objectives conform to the principles of mitigating and adapting to climate change and achieving good design, and they should ensure that schemes balance national, local and commercial interests.” It adds that ” it is unlikely that proposals will meet each objective to an equal degree and that an element of ‘trade off’ between objectives might therefore be required.”     Click here to view full story…

Airports Commission launches 6 week consultation on appraisal framework for short-listed runway schemes

Date added: January 17, 2014

The Chairman of the Airports Commission, Sir Howard Davies, launched the most recent consultation by the Commission, at the RunwaysUK conference on 16th January. This consultation is on its appraisal framework, and ends on 28th February. The aim is to set out how the runway schemes it short-listed (2 at Heathrow, one at Gatwick and the possibility one for the Isle of Grain will be added by late summer 2014) will be assessed in terms of social, economic and environmental criteria. A summary of responses will be published within 3 months of the consultation closing. The document is 127 pages long, requiring detailed and carefully considered responses. On environmental matters, the Commission lists their objectives, for appraisal of schemes, to include: minimising noise impacts; protecting local air quality; minimising CO2 emissions in airport construction and operation (not from flights); protecting quality of ground and surface water, using water efficiently and reducing flood risk; and minimising impacts on existing landscape character and heritage assets. Under the heading “People” their objectives are to maintain and where possible improve the quality of life for local residents; manage and reduce the effects of housing loss on local communities; and reduce or avoid disproportionate impacts on any social group. They also ask: Are there any other objectives that the Commission should consider, and if so what are they?    Click here to view full story…

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On 20th January 2014 the Commission issued information on its forecasts.

Airports Commission: airport level passenger forecasts 2011 to 2050

The date in spreadsheets are at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/airports-commission-airport-level-passenger-forecasts-2011-to-2050

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1. Aviation capacity in the UK: emerging thinking

   • updated 23 December 2013
   • Consultation outcome

2. Airports Commission meetings with stakeholders

   • updated 23 December 2013
   • Transparency data

3. Government welcomes Airports Commission interim report

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17 December 2013 — Press release

Airports Commission publishes interim report

The independent review concludes that there is a need for 1 additional runway to be in operation in the south east of the UK by 2030.

Airports Commission: interim report

The interim report from the Airports Commission into airport capacity and connectivity in the UK.

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Short and medium term options: proposals for making the best use of existing airport capacity

7.8.2013  https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/226831/final-summary-short-medium-term-options.pdf

Airports Commission publishes full list of long term proposals to increase UK airport capacity

Airports Commission membership

• 2 November 2012    and see also https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=3497

Airports Commission unveils new expert panel

3.5.2013  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/airports-commission-unveils-new-expert-panel     and    https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=4384

The Commission’s website says:

The Airports Commission examines the need for additional UK airport capacity and recommends to government how this can be met in the short, medium and long term. Airports Commission works with the Department for Transport.

The Commission’s website says:

What we do

The Airports Commission examines the need for additional UK airport capacity and recommends to government how this can be met in the short, medium and long term.

Responsibilities

• submitting a report to the government by the end of 2013, identifying and recommending options for maintaining the UK’s status as an international hub for aviation and immediate actions to improve the use of existing runway capacity in the next 5 years
• submitting a final report to the government by summer 2015 assessing the environmental, economic and social costs and benefits of various solutions to increase airport capacity – considering operational, commercial and technical viability

Priorities

Our main priorities are to:

• take a UK-wide perspective considering the national, regional and local implications of any proposals
• provide interested parties and members of the public with opportunities to submit evidence and proposals and to set out views relevant to our work
• build a consensus in support of our approach and recommendations

Who we are

The Airports Commission is an independent commission chaired by Sir Howard Davies and includes 5 other members.

On 7 September 2012, the government announced its intention to create an independent commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, to identify and recommend to government options for maintaining the UK’s status as a global aviation hub.

The commission’s role will be to identify and evaluate how any need for additional capacity should be met in the short, medium and long term whilst maintaining a UK-wide perspective. The commission will need to ensure it undertakes a thorough assessment of all the issues by considering all relevant factors including the economic, environmental and social costs and benefits and where necessary, the operational and technical deliverability.

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Anticipated cost of the Airports Commission:

Contact the Airports Commission:

Email:   airports.enquiries@airports.gsi.gov.uk.

By letter:

Airports Commission
Sanctuary Buildings
20 Great Smith Street
London, SW1P 3BT

• Airports Commission’s Terms of reference 

 . Airports Commission on  Twitter

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All the Airports Commission’s announcements:

See all of our announcements

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All the Airports Commission’s publications:

See all of our publications

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All the Airports Commission’s discussion papers:

. Aviation noise discussion paper

• 4 July 2013

. Discussion paper on airport operational models

• 16 May 2013

• Sift criteria for long term capacity options at UK airports

• 3 May 2013

• Discussion paper on aviation and climate change

• 5 April 2013

• Discussion paper on aviation connectivity and the economy

  • 8 March 2013

  • Discussion paper on aviation demand forecasting

  • 1 February 2013

The Commission has held only two public evidence sessions. On 9th and 10th July.

Transcripts of the Airports Commission’s 2 public evidence sessions and links to presentations

Date added: July 29, 2013 The Airports Commission have now published their verbatim transcripts of their two (and only) public evidence sessions, on 9th and 10th July. The first session on 9th July (held in Manchester) was on climate, at which AEF (Tim Johnson and Cait Hewitt) and WWF (Jean Leston and Tom Vita) gave presentations, followed by the industry group, Sustainable Aviation (Matt Gorman and Jonathan Counsell). The second session on 9th July was on demand and connectivity. SSE (Brian Ross) gave a presentation, followed by the CBI (Nicola Walker). The 10th July session (held in London) was on Airport Operational Models 1. The morning session for BA (Willie Walsh), Heathrow (Colin Matthews), Mayor of London’s office (Daniel Moylan and Richard de Cani, TfL). The second session on 10th July was also on Airport Operational Models 2, with evidence from EasyJet (Carolyn McCall), Birmingham Airport (Paul Kehoe), Gatwick Airport (Sir Roy McNulty) and MAG (Tim Hawkins). Not all 13 organisations giving evidence at the two sessions submitted a visual presentation. There are links to the presentations that were given. The verbatim transcript cover what was said by others, including questions from the floor, and responses given. Click here to view full story…

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Responses to the Airports Commission’s discussion documents – including links to those from AirportWatch members

Date added: July 31, 2013

The Airports Commission has now published on its website all the responses it has received to its various discussion documents. Stakeholder responses to Airports Commission discussion papers The discussion documents have been on: aviation demand forecasting; on air connectivity and the economy; on aviation and climate change; and on airport operational models. Due to the huge volume of text, the Commission has put the responses in zip files, with links to each response as a pdf document. However, some older computers may have difficulty in opening the zip files. AirportWatch has listed below all the organisations that have responded to each of the discussions. AirportWatch has also given links to submissions from our member organisations, and those not from the aviation industry or the advocates of airport expansion. To see all the submissions, visit the Airports Commission website. It is anticipated that the Commission will shortly – in August – put up all the airport or runway proposals that were submitted by the 19th July deadline.

Click here to view full story…

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Stakeholder responses to Airports Commission discussion papers

The Commission has finally uploaded the responses to its various discussion papers to its website.

These are at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/stakeholder-responses-to-airports-commission-discussion-papers

The document showing which organisations responded to which discussion paper is available as a spreadsheet at  Response publication list

Noise response from GACC Sept 2013

Organisations that responded to the Aviation Demand Forecasting paper

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Organisations that responded to the Connectivity and Economy paper

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Organisations that responded to the Aviation and Climate Change paper

Organisations that responded to the  Airport Operational Models discussion paper:

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Paper on noise is still out for consultation