Date set for Stansted Airport expansion planning decision
The passenger limit at Stansted could be lifted from 35 million a year to 43 million. Now the date of the special planning committee hearing at Uttlesford District Council, (UDC) to decide a planning application that would mean potentially millions more people going through Stansted, has been announced. UDC said the special planning committee is will be on October 17th, following 3 public speaking sessions the week before the decision will be made. The decision on whether to allow the airport to increase its annual passenger numbers was due to be decided in July, but because of the lack of information on sections of the application the meeting was delayed. There has been staunch opposition from residents fighting to stop any increase in passenger numbers. In August, Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) filed legal papers to try and force the government to make the decision on the application, saying that UDC didn’t have the experience or expertise to handle such a complicated application. Currently the airport is operating with around 27 million passengers per year, eight million fewer than its current passenger limit. SSE will continue with legal action to make central government decide the plans, irrespective of the decision taken by UDC’s planning committee.
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Date set for London Stansted Airport expansion planning decision
The passenger limit could be lifted from 35 million a year to 43 million
By Huw Wales
17 SEP 2018
The date of a committee hearing to decide a planning application that would mean potentially millions more people going through Stansted Airport has been announced.
Uttlesford District Council (UDC) announced that a special planning committee is going to be held on October 17, following three public speaking sessions the week before the decision will be made.
The decision on whether to allow the airport to increase its annual passenger numbers from 35 million to 43 million was due to be decided in July, but because of the lack of information on sections of the application the meeting was delayed.
While Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which owns London Stansted Airport, has said that expansion is key to expanding the economy in the region, there has been staunch opposition from residents fighting to stop any increase in passenger numbers.
In August, Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) filed legal papers to try and force the government to make the decision on the application, saying that UDC didn’t have the experience or expertise to handle such a complicated application.
Currently the airport is operating with around 27 million passengers per year, eight million fewer than its current passenger limit.
The full planning application includes two new taxiway links to the existing runway, and nine aircraft stands spread across two taxiways, with a maximum of 274,000 aircraft movements allowed over a 12 month period.
Of the 274,000 aircraft leaving and entering the airport, the airport says that no more than 16,000 of them would be cargo planes.
The airport is currently in the middle of a £600 million development which includes a new terminal, larger immigration and baggage reclaim areas, as well as upgrades to the airfield, car parks and check-in desks.
READ MORE
Uttlesford District Council announces decision to delay London Stansted Airport expansion application as additional evidence is required https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/uttlesford-district-council-announces-decision-1681871
A London Stansted spokesman said: “We are pleased that Uttlesford District Council has confirmed details of the public speaking sessions and Planning Committee date to discuss and determine our planning application to increase the limit on passengers at London Stansted from 35 million to 43 million passengers a year.
“We look forward to contributing to the speaking sessions to outline our commitment to making best use of existing capacity within previously agreed limits on aircraft noise and flight numbers and within the airport’s current boundary, and await the consideration of the Planning Committee with great interest.”
However, SSE said that it would continues with legal action to make central government decide the plans, irrespective of the decision taken by UDC’s planning committee.
A spokesman for SSE said: “SSE has consistently argued that this airport planning application should be determined nationally rather than locally by UDC.
“National determination is a far more thorough process, involving a specialist team appointed by the Secretary of State who have expertise on major infrastructure projects such as this Stansted project.
“If this planning application was approved it would mean a 66 per cent increase in passengers and a 44 per cent increase in flights compared to last year.
“Stansted Airport is also seeking the removal of a longstanding condition which prevents it from lobbying Government for more night flights.
“Early last month SSE filed a judicial review application with the High Court aimed at forcing this airport planning application to be determined nationally rather than locally.
“These High Court proceedings will take several months and SSE has repeatedly urged UDC not to jump the gun but to await the decision of the High Court before making any decision locally.
“If UDC carries on regardless and approves this airport planning application next month, that approval would be overturned if SSE’s High Court action is ultimately successful.
“In the meantime, SSE will continue to provide evidence to UDC explaining why this airport planning application should be refused.
“SSE provided UDC with a 175-page dossier at the end of April, a second batch of evidence in June and will shortly make a third submission, setting out reasons why UDC Planning Committee should not approve this planning application.”
The public speaking sections will be held on October 9, between 10am and 1pm, and on October 10, between 2pm and 5pm and another session on the same day between 6pm and 9pm.
The locations of these sessions has not yet been announced.
For more information about the application and key documents, visit uttlesford.gov.uk/airportapplication