Boris sets out his 4 ideas for future of Heathrow site if airport is closed

Boris has produced a report on what might happen to Heathrow and its surrounding area, if the airport was shut (and a massive airport built on the Thames estuary). The report sets out 4 schemes.  Boris says he is “prompting a genuine, honest discussion about what London could achieve in a world post Heathrow.” He said: “The money seems to be going on Gatwick, but I do not think that is the long-term solution that London needs – in having a dual hub solution.”  The 4 schemes are for a new education and technology quarter, with 2 new large campus universities; a new town, with over 48,000 homes for 112,000 people and 76,000 jobs created in total ; a new residential quarter, on the scale of Hammersmith and Fulham, with 82,000 new homes supporting a population of 200,000, and 54,000 jobs; or a Heathrow City, with education and commercial research,  high value manufacturing,knowledge parks and office development – with 80,000 homes and 90,000 jobs created.  The report says many of the jobs currently provided at Heathrow would “move to the new airport and be easily accessible via the world class transport links proposed.” There is a separate report by Hillingdon.
.

 

Mayor wants honest discussion of how Heathrow site can best serve London in the 21st century

31 March 2014  (GLA – Mayor of London press release)

The Mayor of London has released a major new report that sets out several options for redevelopment of the Heathrow airport site if a new hub airport in the south east is eventually agreed by the Government and Heathrow airport relocates. It concludes that redeveloping the site could potentially support 90,000 new jobs and provide homes for 190,000 people.

The Mayor wants his report to kickstart an open, honest and evidence based debate on the potential of the Heathrow site to provide homes and jobs, in the face of the immense challenge posed by an increase in population for the capital, which is forecast to be equivalent to adding the population of Glasgow and Birmingham combined by 2030. In a sign of the seriousness with which the potential relocation of the airport is now being taken today (31 March) the London Borough of Hillingdon, the home of Heathrow Airport, have also released a report examining how the site might be used in the future.

Global Real Estate Advisers, Jones Lang LaSalle with PBA were responsible for the Mayor’s report. In it they tested three viable options for the Heathrow site. They worked to a theory that a new hub airport to the east of London had already been approved and that Heathrow airport would potentially relocate by 2030. They projected that many of the jobs currently provided at Heathrow would move to the new airport and be easily accessible via the world class transport links proposed. Meanwhile three scenarios for the redevelopment of the Heathrow site would create thousands of new jobs. Those scenarios are:

A new education and technology quarter: This would recognise the important role that the higher education sector and its research capabilities have in supporting the London economy. A new education quarter based around two new large campus universities could support 100,000 jobs. It would deliver 30,000 homes and 10,000 student housing units. When fully developed the quarter would generate an extra £7.8bn a year for the London economy. Similar types of education quarters can be found at Paris Saclay and in Boston.

A new town: This would take the form of an entirely new town that would look to provide over 48,000 homes for 112,000 people. The report anticipates that some commuting in and out of the town would occur but it should be possible to achieve a broad balance of jobs and workers living in the town with 76,000 jobs created in total. When fully developed this option would generate around £6bn every year.

A new residential quarter: This would create a new London residential quarter on the scale of Hammersmith and Fulham or Kensington and Chelsea. Many of the population would commute for work to central London or out to the Thames Valley. Nearly 82,000 new homes would support a population of 200,000. The report estimates 54,000 jobs would be created with 46,000 of those jobs in activities supporting the local population. When fully developed this option would generate around £3.9bn a year.

The report concludes that the most likely scenario for redeveloping the airport will likely be a combination of the three options considered, which would provide the opportunity for strong levels of job creation and housing growth. A further fourth “Heathrow City” scenario would be of such quality that its potential is unlikely to be matched by any other site in the foreseeable future.

Heathrow City: would develop a new residential quarter around existing transport facilities. Some terminal buildings would remain for retail, town and convention centre use. There would likely be a focus on education and commercial research such as high value manufacturing spinning off into knowledge parks and office development. Altogether 80,000 homes and 90,000 jobs would be created. This option would generate around £7.5bn a year for the London economy and UK plc.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “My job as Mayor is to consider how best to face the incredible challenges posed by the unparalleled increase in population taking place in our city over the first half of this century. I believe there is no question that the best option for increasing our aviation capacity is now to the east of London, just as there is no question that Heathrow would then present a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity to create a new town within the capital that would supply thousands more homes and jobs. Relocating Heathrow would bring benefits to both east and west London and it is impossible to get one without the other. This report is about clearing away the smoke screen put up by people whose loyalty is to their shareholders, not to Londoners; and prompting a genuine, honest discussion about what London could achieve in a world post Heathrow airport.

“Londoners should be in no doubt: if Heathrow is allowed a third runway, it will be rapidly followed by a fourth, as airlines move out of Gatwick to take up the new capacity. My vision offers the capital world-class air links combined with thousands of new homes and jobs. An expanded Heathrow just offers more misery.”

Transport for London will be working with a number of organisations to put on a series of events and workshops over coming months with a brief to consider the practicalities of redeveloping the Heathrow site with greater honesty and accuracy than ever before.

The argument that the only way to satisfy the need for extra aviation capacity would be to expand to a four runway hub airport was further strengthened last week. Supporters of a new runway at Gatwick Airport claim that Heathrow is inaccessible for low-cost airlines due to its higher landing charges. But the Chief Executive of EasyJet has now categorically rejected that assertion, citing the airline’s operations at other European hub airports, and being undeterred by their higher landing fees. Once and for all, this should put paid to the idea that expansion of hub airport capacity is incompatible with continued growth of low-cost carriers. A London hub airport which can offer sufficient capacity and resilient, efficient operations on an unconstrained site will be able to cater for increased low-cost carrier activity – realistically, this can only be delivered with a new four runway hub airport to the east of London.

Cllr Ray Puddifoot, Leader of Hillingdon Council, said:  “Whilst it is apparent that the only senior politician, of any party, with the clarity of vision to deal with this issue is Boris Johnson the decision on where to build the new airport is not, at this time, his to make.  However, what is abundantly clear is the need to start preparing now for the future of the site.  Our document, Heathrow Park, begins the debate and outlines a future without the airport or with a smaller airport. It shows the real potential of  the site and presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to create tens of thousands  of jobs and homes.”

Cllr Ray Puddifoot, Leader of Hillingdon Council agrees with the statement made by the local MP John McDonnell that “we will need to counter the threat to jobs campaign that has been funded  by Heathrow Airport in the Back Heathrow Campaign” and the statement of the  Airports Commission in their Interim Report  that Heathrow is “a very substantial site for redevelopment” and “supporting the shift of London’s economic centre of gravity eastwards to allow for further expected population growth, combined with a major redevelopment opportunity of the Heathrow site, is an alluring prospect which could have a major impact on the economic geography of the South East.”

 http://www.london.gov.uk/media/mayor-press-releases/2014/03/mayor-wants-honest-discussion-of-how-heathrow-site-can-best

 


Boris’s report:   Heathrow Redevelopment Scenarios

Hillingdon report:  Heathrow Park: A Better Future for Heathrow


 

BORIS JOHNSON OUTLINES VISION IF HEATHROW WAS CLOSED AND NEW ESTUARY AIRPORT BUILT

by  

Monday, 31 March 2014  (Airport World)
The report by Hillingdon Council is at  “Heathrow Park: A Better Future for Heathrow”

Boris Johnson outlines vision if Heathrow was closed and new Estuary Airport built

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, outlined his vision today of a future without Heathrow Airport and development of a state-of-the-art new Estuary Airport.

Flanked by his aviation advisor, Daniel Moylan, he presented a report at Hillingdon Council, entitled Heathrow: Redevelopment Scenarios.

Johnson says he wants an ‘open, honest, and evidence based debate’ on how the Heathrow site can ‘best serve London in the 21st century’.

The report was based on closure of the world’s third busiest airport in 2030, a new town being built on the site, and a four-runway Estuary Airport constructed on the Isle of Grain in Kent.

Johnson says: “This report is about clearing away the smoke screen put up by people whose loyalty is to their shareholders, not to Londoners, and prompting a genuine, honest discussion about what London could achieve in a world post Heathrow.”

Options he says for the Heathrow site, post closure, include the creation of a new education and technology quarter creating 100,000 jobs.

The second is a new town providing 48,000 homes for 112,000 people, and creating 76,000 jobs.

The third is a residential quarter, on the scale of Hammersmith or Fulham or Kensington and Chelsea, with 82,000 homes for 200,000 people.

The mayor’s report says the most likely scenario for redevelopment of the site, which is nearly the size of Kensington and Chelsea, will be a combination of all three options, to provide the ‘opportunity for strong levels of job creation and housing growth’.

A further fourth ’Heathrow City’ scenario was also detailed, and the report claims 80,000 homes and 90,000 jobs could be created.

The report concludes that if Heathrow Airport is closed, and redeveloped into a town, it could potentially support 90,000 jobs and provide homes for 190,000 people by 2030.

heath

Johnson told media and Hillingdon Council councillors, he is backing closure of Heathrow and the building of a new hub, as there are two barriers to economic growth and prosperity in London – a rising population and the lack of aviation capacity in the South East.

Johnson explains in his view, as Heathrow is limited by development due to capacity, the UK is losing out on business and passenger traffic to Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, and Paris CDG airports.

“UK business is losing the ability to compete with the growth markets in Asia and Latin America. It is a long-term problem and we need to solve it now,” he adds.

And Johnson says building a new runway at Heathrow is not the ‘right answer’ and in his opinion it would also lead to a fourth runway being built sometime in the future.

“In my judgement, it is not going to happen anyway (a runway at Heathrow) as it is not politically deliverable.

“People will stop it when they realise the impact, and the answer is to be bold and look at what other countries have done (like Hong Kong) and move the hub airport.

“We could build a 24-hour, four-runway airport on one of the Estuary sites, that would allow us to get on with competing with Schiphol and Paris CDG, and galvanise the Thames Gateway area, and allow our businesses to compete,” Johnson adds.

estuary

Commission chairman, Sir Howard Davies, previously explained in his view, the ambitious Thames Estuary Airport development would cost from £20-100 billion (€24-120 billion, but the mayor says the £100 billion mark suggested was way off the mark.

The commission is set to make a decision in the autumn, on whether to add the airport proposal on the Isle of Grain to the short-list.

The list currently includes three options, two for new runway suggestions at Heathrow, and a second runway at Gatwick.

The mayor says he will be speaking to the Airports Commission soon, about what option is in the best interests of London.

And he was positive the Estuary plan may make the short-list, as Sir Howard, ‘recognises the huge regeneration possibilities’ that exist with moving the hub.

And the mayor says irrespective of the commission’s decision, he will be continuing ‘the fight’ for a new hub airport in the South East, and it will always be his solution to expanding capacity.

The mayor also explains he is against a new runway being built at Gatwick, as thinks London needs one main hub, as opposed to a two-hub system.

Johnson says: “The money seems to be going on Gatwick, but I do not think that is the long-term solution that London needs – in having a dual hub solution.

“Me and my TFL team are sceptical, as we think another runway at Gatwick does not solve the capacity issue.

gatty

“What it would not deliver is a long-term hub capacity. And we are not ever going to have three or four runways at Gatwick.

“The advantage of the four-runway Estuary Airport, is that we would have the space to expand further, to five or six runways.”

Johnson and his aviation advisor also gave their assurances that airlines and passengers would be happy to move from Heathrow to the Estuary Airport in Kent, as say it will improve facilities and give them more space and opportunities.

His advisor Moylan, also says there is no reason why the owner of Heathrow, Heathrow Airport Holdings cannot simply relocate, and be part of the Estuary Airport development project.

Mayor Johnson concluded by declaring ‘no to a third runway at Heathrow’ and that London needs to expand capacity in the South East where the highest ‘economic growth yield’ is.

Hillingdon Council, which is against a new runway being built at Heathrow, also released a report at the briefing based on similar ideas to the mayor, and outlined two possible options if it is closed.

There option A assumes the airport is closed completely, and a ‘Heathrow Park’ town, with 45,000 new homes for 98,483 people is built.

Option B features construction of a new West London Airport on the site, operating as a regional airport, and the building of a Heathrow Park town alongside it.

The Airports Commission are set to give a response shortly on the three options it has short-listed to expand airport capacity in the South East, before give its final recommendations to the UK government after next year’s general election.

A Heathrow spokesperson says the mayor’s plans would be ‘devastating’ and adds: “The Mayor of London is proposing to spend billions of pounds of public money to forcibly buy and then close Heathrow, immediately putting 114,000 people out of work.

“He would do this to build an expensive new hub airport at a further cost of £112 billion to the taxpayer.  The economic impacts of this at both a national and regional level would be devastating.”

http://www.airport-world.com/home/general-news/item/3831-boris-johnson-outlines-his-vision-if-heathrow-is-closed-and-estuary-airport-is-built?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

.


 

.

Also

Hillingdon Leader unveils vision with 2 scenarios of future Heathrow without the airport

April 1, 2014

The Leader of Hillingdon Council has set out his vision for the redevelopment of the Heathrow site should the government decide that a new hub airport ought to be built elsewhere in the south east. There has been a lot of scare mongering promoted by Heathrow, and its lobbying campaign, “Back Heathrow” to cause concern that jobs in the Heathrow area would be lost if a 3rd runway was not allowed. On the same day that Boris set out his own 4 scenarios for the area, if Heathrow closed, Hillingdon now sets out its 2 possible scenarios, in its “Heathrow Park: A Better Future for Heathrow.” These are: (1). A smaller West London Airport similar in scale to City Airport; with “Heathrow Park” delivering 31,000 homes for an estimated 67,000 people, and including those at the airport, around 72,000 jobs. (2). If Heathrow Airport closed completely Hillingdon anticipate the creation of “Heathrow Park” with up to 45,000 homes (30% affordable) for nearly 100,000 people, with over 66,000 jobs and a wide range of education, health, public open space and community facilities. In the 2nd scenario, For both scenarios, the principle settlement of Heathrow Gardens and the surrounding ‘urban villages’ will be centred on existing tube and rail networks to maximise connectivity.

Click here to view full story…


 

.

Hillingdon Leader unveils vision without Heathrow

Cllr Ray Puddifoot, the Leader of Hillingdon Council, today (31 March) unveiled his vision for the redevelopment of the Heathrow site should the government decide that a new hub airport ought to be built elsewhere in the south east.

31 March 2014

Heathrow Airport Ltd has indicated that if Heathrow Airport is not allowed to expand it cannot continue to operate. (??)

Cllr Puddifoot agrees with the statement made by the local MP John McDonnell that ” we will need to counter the threat to jobs campaign that has been funded by Heathrow Airport in the Back Heathrow Campaign” and the statement of the Airports Commission in their Interim Report  that Heathrow is ” a very substantial site for redevelopment” and ” supporting the shift of London’s economic centre of gravity eastwards to allow for further expected population growth, combined with a major redevelopment opportunity of the Heathrow site, is an alluring prospect which could have a major impact on the economic geography of the South East.”

The blueprint,  Heathrow Park: A Better Future for Heathrow [2Mb] sets out two possible scenarios: one if Heathrow closes, with a smaller West London Airport similar in scale to City Airport; and the second, if there is the total closure of Heathrow Airport.

Cllr Puddifoot was joined by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who released a major report, Heathrow Redevelopment Scenarios, also examining how the site might be used in the future if a new international hub was built.

Heathrow Park offers a ‘garden city’ alternative to replace Heathrow Airport and would see the creation of tens of thousands of new homes and jobs.

The two scenarios set out in the Hillingdon masterplan are:

If Heathrow Airport closed completely 

This would see the creation of Heathrow Park containing up to 45,000 homes (of which 30 per cent would be affordable) for nearly 100,000 people, the delivery of  over 66,000 jobs and a wide range of education, health, public open space and  community facilities.  A vibrant centre, called Heathrow Gardens, would be located at the heart of Heathrow Park with larger facilities including a major  health centre and educational campus with further/higher education facilities.    Three independent villages would also be built, each with strong links to the  central Heathrow Gardens and existing adjoining facilities.

A new West London Airport established

The main features of the first option would be retained but with a regional airport established to the north west of the site employing 2,000 people and the creation of Heathrow Park delivering 31,000 homes for an estimated 67,000 people.   Including those at the airport, around 72,000 jobs would be created.

For both scenarios, the principle settlement of Heathrow Gardens and the surrounding ‘urban villages’ will be centred on existing tube and rail networks to maximise connectivity.

They would be built to the highest quality architectural and landscape design and located within a parkland setting. The environment will be at the heart of the plans with large expanses of open space, woodland and waterways.

Each home will be no more than 800 metres from a town or neighbourhood centre and few hundred metres from transport links.

Cllr Puddifoot said:  “Whilst it is apparent that the only senior politician, of any party , with the clarity of vision to deal with this issue is Boris Johnson the decision on where to build the new airport is not, at this time, his to make. However what is abundantly clear is the need to start preparing now for the future of the site.  Our document, Heathrow Park, begins the debate and outlines a future without the airport or with a smaller airport. It shows the real potential of the site and presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to create tens of thousands of jobs and homes.”

http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/28263/Leader-unveils-vision-without-Heathrow

.

.

.

.

.

.