Gatwick airport to consult for 6 weeks on 3 “options” for its 2nd runway
Gatwick airport is starting a public consultation, on 4th April (lasting 6 weeks – ending 16th May) on its runway submission to the Airports Commission. The consultation has 3 options (not the same 3 as the 3 options in the July submission). The first is the close runway (which is little use to the airport) 585 metres to the south; the second is a wide spaced runway, 1,045 metres to the south, for segregated mode (ie. take-offs on one runway, landings on the other); or the wide spaced runway, 1,045 metres to the south, for mixed mode (both take-offs and landing) – the profitable option. Gatwick airport very definitely wants the 3rd option. The airport says they want to “refine and improve” their plans. However, they have to submit their plan to the Commission on 9th May, so the timing of the consultation is odd as it will end after the plans are submitted. When Gatwick submitted their schemes to the Commission in July 2013, there were 3 options; a close runway about 600 metres south of the current runway, for “dependent segregated mode”; or a medium spaced runway about 750 metres south for “independent segregated mode”; or a wide spaced runway about 1,035 metres to the south of the current runway, for “independent mixed mode.” Only the last option was short-listed by the Commission. There will be 16 exhibitions in towns and villages in Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
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London Gatwick to consult publicly on second runway options
17 March 2014 (Gatwick Airport press release)
- Gatwick seeking views and suggestions on its second runway options
- Six-week consultation and public exhibitions will begin on 4th April 2014
- Feedback will help refine and improve Gatwick’s second runway proposal to the Airports Commission
In its Interim Report published in December 2013, the Government’s independent Airports Commission included London Gatwick on its shortlist of potential locations for the next runway in the UK.
Gatwick recognises that its local communities will have many questions about what a second runway at Gatwick would mean for them, and is inviting them to participate in a six week public consultation starting on 4th April 2014.
The consultation will provide further information on the three options Gatwick proposed to the Airports Commission in its initial submission last July, and will give people an opportunity to tell the airport what they think about these. People will be able to respond online via the airport website, in person at one of 16 public exhibitions, or by post.
The reason for consulting on all three options is to provide more detail on each, the reasons for Gatwick’s provisional order of preference and to obtain views and feedback to help refine and improve the options.
Option 1 is a new runway 585m south of the existing runway, Option 2 is a new runway 1,045m south of the existing runway, with one runway used for landings and the other used for take-offs. Option 3 is similar in layout to Option 2 but both runways would be used for landings and take-offs.
While each option has its own strengths, Gatwick’s evaluation to date has led to a provisional order of preference in its consultation document, with Option 3 being its preferred first choice.
The Airports Commission focused its assessment on this option for last December’s Interim Report but said it would, however, keep this under review.
The consultation process starts next week when a letter will be sent to homes and businesses in Sussex, Kent and Surrey with details of the consultation and the list and timings of the public exhibitions. Questions within the consultation will cover a range of topics including the major environmental, economic and social considerations. The consultation findings will be published by Ipsos MORI in an independent report by this summer.
Gatwick will provide the Airports Commission with the results of this consultation and any resulting option developments so that there may be an opportunity for them to be taken into account by the Commission before it reports to the Government in the summer of 2015.
Stewart Wingate, CEO of London Gatwick, said: “The views of the local community are an essential element in shaping Gatwick’s second runway options. Therefore it is important we hear from as many people as possible through our consultation so that we can consider local opinions fully in our refined runway proposals.”
About Gatwick’s consultation
- The options on which Gatwick is consulting on for a new 3.4 km runway are:
- Option 1 – a new runway 585m south of the existing runway with one runway used for landings and the other used for take-offs.
- Option 2 – a new runway 1,045m south of the existing runway with one runway used for landings and the other used for take-offs, and a new terminal between the runways.
- Option 3 – a new runway 1,045m south of the existing runway with both runways used for landings and take-offs, and a new terminal between the runways.
- The six-week public consultation runs from 4th April to 16th May 2014.
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Gatwick’s submission to the Airports Commission in July 2013
Gatwick’s plans are at: ”Proposals for providing Additional Runway Capacity in the Longer Term“
Gatwick 2nd runway plans – to increase airport to larger than Heathrow is now – opposed by GACC (see below)
Their 3 options
1. This is the close spaced option for the 2nd runway, some 600 – 700 metres south of the existing runway. “Dependent Segregated Mode”
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2. This is the medium spaced option for the 2nd runway, some over 750 metres, but under 1,000 metres or so , south of the existing runway. “Independent Segregated Mode”
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3. This is the wide spaced option for the 2nd runway, over 1,035 metres south of the existing runway. ”Independent Mixed Mode”
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Notes to Editors – from the Gatwick Airport press release
17.3.2014
About Gatwick’s consultation
- The options on which Gatwick is consulting on for a new 3.4 km runway are:
- Option 1 – a new runway 585m south of the existing runway with one runway used for landings and the other used for take-offs.
- Option 2 – a new runway 1,045m south of the existing runway with one runway used for landings and the other used for take-offs, and a new terminal between the runways.
- Option 3 – a new runway 1,045m south of the existing runway with both runways used for landings and take-offs, and a new terminal between the runways.
- The six-week public consultation runs from 4th April to 16th May 2014.
- Public consultations will be held in Crawley, Rusper, Smallfield, Ifield, Lingfield, Horsham, Crowborough, East Grinstead, Reigate, Crawley Down, Horley, Charlwood, Dorking, Edenbridge, Felbridge, Epsom.
- More information and full details of where the public exhibitions will be held can be found atwww.gatwickairport.com/consultation from 4 April. The list of exhibitions will also be published in the local media.
About the Airports Commission process
The Airports Commission published its interim report in December 2013, finding that there was a case for an additional runway in the South East of the UK, and shortlisting Gatwick as one of three options for where a new runway could be built.
Throughout 2014, a range of detailed studies will be completed for shortlisted options.
In 2015, the Airports Commission will make recommendations to the Government on how to meet any need for additional airport capacity in the longer term.
About the Airports Commission Interim Report
The interim report was published in December 2013. It included the following information on Gatwick’s proposed options in section 6.74:
“Gatwick Airport Ltd has proposed that a new runway should be constructed south of the existing one. It has identified three options: close-spaced, wide-spaced/dependent operation and wide-spaced/independent option. The Commission’s assessment has focused on the last – a runway over 3,000m in length spaced sufficiently south of the existing runway (at least 1,035m) to permit fully independent operation. This offers the greatest increase in capacity while still having relatively low environmental and noise impacts compared with some other potential sites. The Commission will, however, keep this under review as it takes forward more detailed development and appraisal. The proposal also includes related new terminal facilities and taxiways between the new and existing runways.”
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Consultation over Gatwick runway options
17 March 2014 (BBC)
People in the South East will help shape the plans for Gatwick’s proposed second runway, the airport has said.
The proposal is one of three Airports Commission options for expanding UK airport capacity. The other two involve building at Heathrow.
A six-week consultation starts on 4 April with 16 exhibitions in towns and villages in Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
Gatwick Airport said it wanted to get opinions on its three runway options to help “refine and improve” them.
Letters are to be sent to homes and businesses in the three counties giving details of the events.
Questions within the consultation will cover a range of topics including environmental, economic and social considerations.
Stewart Wingate, CEO of London Gatwick, said: “The views of the local community are an essential element of shaping Gatwick’s second runway options.
“Therefore it is important we hear from as many people as possible through our consultation so that we can consider local opinions in our refined runway proposals.”
The exhibitions will be held in Crawley, Rusper, Smallfield, Ifield, Lingfield, Horsham, Crowborough, East Grinstead, Reigate, Crawley Down, Horley, Charlwood, Dorking, Edenbridge, Felbridge, Epsom.
The Airports Commission interim report was published in December. and detailed studies will be completed for short-listed options throughout 2014.
In 2015, the Airports Commission will make recommendations to the government on how to meet the need for additional airport capacity in the longer term.
Gatwick runway options
- Option 1 – 585m runway south of the existing runway
- Option 2 – 1,045m runway, south of the existing runway with one runway used for take-offs and the other for landings
- Option 3 – similar to option 2 but with both runways used for landings and take-offs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26613812
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