Public enquiry for Stansted airport runway

[21st July 2008]

Stansted airport has welcomed the government's decision to refer its planning application for a second runway to a public enquiry.

"We are pleased the Secretary of State has acted swiftly and demonstrated their willingness to get on with the project," comments Stansted airport G2 project director, Roger Pellman.

"Earlier this year, BAA submitted nearly 40 separate planning applications in support of the G2 runway project following four years of detailed and comprehensive planning work to deliver a key milestone of the Government's Air Transport White Paper. We now confidently look forward to presenting our case in front of an independent inspector at the forthcoming planning inquiry," continues Pellman.

If permission is granted for Stansted's second runway it would be the first new runway in the south east for over 50 years. A new airport terminal would also be built. Airport operator BAA hopes to start construction in 2011 and open the new runway and terminal by 2015. It has said that the scheme would bring £9 billion of economic benefits and create 13,000 new jobs by 2030. The number of passengers using the airport is expected to increase to about 68 million by that date.

"There are huge social and economic benefits to be enjoyed from the development of a second runway at Stansted for the East of England, London and for UKplc, and we are fully committed to maximising these opportunities for millions of air travellers while at the same time doing all we can to limit, avoid and mitigate against any environmental impacts," says Pellman.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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