Environment and roads

Airports

The government expects demand for air travel to increase dramatically. Forecasts predict an increase in air passengers in the south east from about 130 million a year to about 300 million by 2030. As a result the Government published a White Paper in December 2003 entitled The Future of Air Transport, which proposed new facilities and runways to meet future demand. The White Paper identified the potential for significant expansion at the two airports on Hertfordshire’s boundary: London Luton and Stansted.

Since 2003, both London Luton and Stansted have published draft Master Plans outlining how each airport intends to expand. London Luton has proposed growth from 9.2 million passengers a year in 2005, to 30 million passengers a year in 2030 with a new runway in operation by 2011(see London Luton Master Plan). Stansted has proposed growth from 22 million passengers a year today, to 35 million passengers a year in 2014 on the existing single runway (see Stansted Master Plan) and plans a second runway operational by 2013 that could expand use of Stansted up to nearly 80 million passengers a year in 2030 (see G2: The Second Runway).

The timetable is currently:

Stansted
• Draft Interim Master Plan and Consultation Report on more intensive use of existing single runway published 27 July 2005
• Consultation on Stansted Airport’s preferred location for the second runway November 2005 with further consultations in 2006
• Planning application for full use of existing runway April 2006
• Planning application for second runway and Final Master Plan mid 2007

London Luton
• Draft Master Plan and Consultation on proposed replacement runway October 2005
• Final Master Plan May 2006
• Planning application for full use of existing runway May 2006
• Planning application for new runway early 2007


Consultation responses to proposed development at Stansted and London Luton Airports

Any airport expansion close to such a densely populated county as Hertfordshire will impact on its residents, most notably through increased noise and pressure on the transport infrastructure. In response to the consultations Hertfordshire County Council has voiced its strong concerns over the proposed expansion of London Luton and Stansted, and its total opposition to any new runways. The full consultation responses are available below:

• December 2005 consultation response to the Draft Interim Stansted Master Plan
• January 2006 consultation response to the Draft London Luton Master Plan
• March 2006 consultation response to the Stansted proposed second runway location

For more information on the issues of airport expansion and the consultation process see Airports FAQ and the issues for Hertfordshire links below.