Bristol Airport planning application launched

Your chance to stop the expansion of Bristol
International Airport – how to comment
on the application
 29th June 2009       Bristol International Airport (BIA) has applied for planning permission to expand.
This development aims to increase passengers by 60% by 2016, increase passenger
flights by 40%, summer night flights by 50%, car journeys by over 2m per year,
and carbon emissions by at least 40%.     SBAE   (Stop Bristol Airport Expansion)
have put together all the information people need to comment on the airport’s
application.   Deadline  was 7th August – now extended to 17th August.
    Click here for details…..
and

 
 
 
16.6.2009     (Bristol airport press release)

Proposals to balance economic benefits with environmental initiatives are included
in Bristol International Airport’s (BIA) planning application for its future development,
submitted to North Somerset Council today (Tuesday 16 June).

The proposals, designed to enable BIA to handle 10 million passengers a year
and create more than 3,500 new jobs across the region, include a range of measures
to mitigate the impact of the airport’s activity on the local community and the
environment.

The final form of the planning application comes after an extensive consultation
exercise with local communities in North Somerset and the Chew Valley area, parish
councils, the four unitary councils in the former Avon area and key regional stakeholders
such as SWRDA, the CBI and GWE Business West.

The proposed development is focused on the current airport site and includes
an expansion of the existing terminal to double its overall floor area to house
additional check-in desks, security channels and an enlarged departure lounge
and arrivals area.   A new public transport interchange will sit on top of a multi-storey
car park, with covered pedestrian access linking both to the terminal.   Walkways
and air bridges will provide direct access to aircraft, reducing the need for
passengers to use buses to board and disembark flights.

The plans incorporate several design changes suggested by local people including
changes to the location of new parking and taxiway layouts, lowering the height
of the proposed multi-storey car park, as well as a wide range of mitigation measures
focused on minimising the impact on the local community and the environment.

Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer of Bristol International Airport, said:
"Over the last six months we have listened to a wide range of views relating to
the development of the airport.   We have paid particular attention to the views
of the local community, who are most directly affected by these proposals.  

"The application has been modified to address the key concerns raised.   It now
strikes the right balance between allowing the sustainable development of the
airport to meet the long-term demand for air travel to and from this region, while
also reducing and mitigating the environmental effects."

The environmental mitigation measures include the setting up of an Airport Environmental
Improvement Fund with BIA proposing to contribute £100,000 per year, a figure
that will increase in line with passenger numbers.

This will provide an on-going source of funds for local projects to improve roads,
reduce noise and enhance the local environment.

In response to requests from the local community, the airport has introduced
a new cap on night flights, as well as maintaining the current night noise quota.  
The airport will also commit to maintaining CO2 emissions at or below 2007 levels
with 20 per cent of the additional energy required by the proposed development
coming from on-site renewable sources.

Emissions from flights will be controlled through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
from 2012 with airline allowances capped at 2005 levels. BIA will also work with
airlines to reduce emissions and noise through best practice procedures.

The impact of ground noise on local residents will be reduced by new buildings,
noise walls and the installation of fixed ground electrical power on aircraft
stands close to the perimeter.

As part of the proposals, BIA has earmarked a total of £9 million for public
transport and road improvements. This includes £1 million for local road improvements
focused on the A38, £5 million for a public transport interchange next to the
new terminal and a £3 million contribution to key sub-regional transport schemes
such as the Rapid Transit service to Bristol city centre and the South Bristol
Link.

BIA has set itself the challenging target of increasing the number of passengers
travelling to and from the airport by public transport to 15 per cent at 10 million
passengers a year (from the current level of 10 per cent).

This will be achieved through improvements to the existing Flyer bus service
and the development of new services to Weston-super-Mare and Bath.

An economic impact assessment submitted as part of the planning application estimates
that the development will create over 3,500 new jobs in the South West, and a
Skills and Employment Plan will be created to maximise employment benefits for
the local community around the airport, as well as Weston-super-Mare and South
Bristol.

The study forecasts that the plans would contribute total additional income of
between £1.9 billion and £2.0 billion to the South West region over the period
2008 to 2019/2020.   This includes income generated from the airport’s activities,
increased spending by overseas visitors using Bristol International and savings
in travel time and costs as a result of business and leisure passengers being
able to fly from their local regional airport.

Robert Sinclair continued, "A successful airport is critical to the future prospects
of the South West, providing employment, economic benefits, connections for business
and a gateway for inbound tourists visiting the region.   We are a vital component
of the region’s transport infrastructure. Delaying or doing nothing risks putting
the region to the back of the queue for inward investment and providing a poor
service to passengers flying out of the airport and visitors arriving in the region.

"By improving facilities here in the South West we can offer a real alternative
to the five million passengers from this region currently making time-consuming
and expensive journeys by road or rail to fly from Heathrow and other airports
in the South East.   There is also an opportunity to increase the number of overseas
visitors flying into Bristol International, increasing money spent at local hotels,
restaurants and tourist attractions."

"I believe these proposals are the best way to ensure Bristol International generates
benefits to the South West economy for many years to come, while at the same time
recognising the impacts on local people and providing robust measures to monitor,
control and mitigate these impacts."

Although the number of passengers using Bristol International in recent months
has been affected by the current economic conditions, development is required
to meet forecasts which show long-term growth in demand for travel to and from
the South West.  

Significant congestion already exists at peak periods, and summer 2009 is expected
to be the airport’s busiest ever.  

Security search, passport control and car parks will be operating close to capacity,
potentially resulting in poor customer service for departing passengers and an
unsatisfactory welcome for visitors to the region.

Long-term growth is expected to come from the continued strength of the regional
economy, clawing back ‘leakage’ of passengers to Heathrow through the introduction
of new services and frequencies, and increased inbound tourism.

The proposals will enable the airport to meet this demand and significantly improve
the passenger experience, making it much easier, quicker and more enjoyable to
use the airport.  

Robert Sinclair continued:

"We have enjoyed an open and positive dialogue with the local community and listened
to the concerns raised.   This has helped us to identify the issues that really
matter to them regarding the airport’s future.   The benefits the airport brings
are regional, but the impacts are primarily local.   The measures we have proposed
will control and mitigate the impacts of this development on local people."

The planning application has been submitted to North Somerset Council for consideration.

 

link to BIA press release

 

Deadline for comment – now 17th August.

See   the Stop Bristol Airport  Expansion   website, for more details  on how to object.