Stansted Airport is situated some 10 miles west of Braintree District, in the district of Uttlesford. It affects our District directly in terms of providing employment and generating traffic. Part of the District lies beneath the current flight path.

The owners of the airport, British Airports Authority (BAA), are looking to expand the airport in two stages. These are detailed below as “Generation 1” and “Generation 2”.

“GENERATION 1”

Planning permission exists for the expansion of Stansted Airport, limiting the number of people using the airport to 25 million passengers per annum (mppa) and the number of air transport movements (atms) to 241,000. BAA expect the 25mppa limit to be reached in 2008 and have therefore submitted a planning application to Uttlesford District Council, in April 2006, to remove this condition, in order to make more use of the existing runway to serve approximately 35 mppa with 264,000 atms.

Details of the application, including an opportunity to view all submitted documents can be found here: http://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/stanstedairport/default2.htm

Braintree District Council's response to this application was considered by Full Council on 31st July 2006. The Council's response was as follows: 

That Uttlesford District Council be advised that:

1. This Council objects to the application by BAA to remove the condition that limits the throughput of passengers at the airport. If permission is granted for further growth of the airport this should be subject to a maximum of 30mppa with 253,000 air transport movements.

2. Any permission granted should be subject to a package of public transport improvements to include a comprehensive bus/coach network linking the whole of Braintree District to the airport and a rail link funded by BAA.

3. BAA should be required to pursue the use of quieter aircraft, continuous descent approaches and the location of aircraft stacks away from the Stour Valley and urban areas and to limit the impact of aircraft noise on the District. There should be no increase in night flights and all night flights should also be restricted with the same restrictions on flight times that apply at Heathrow Airport being applied to Stansted Airport and the assessment of the transport network should incorporate noise impact.

4. BAA should be required to carry out a detailed assessment of the transport network to identify the option that causes least damage to the environment.

5. There should be limits on freight air transport movements.

The complete minutes of the 31st July 2006 Full Council meeting can be viewed following this link:

Link to Minutes - Full Council, 31st July 2006

Uttlesford District Council resolved to refuse the planning application on 30th November 2006.  BAA appealed against this decision and a public inquiry was held in 2007.  A decision on this application is expected in autumn 2008.  Further information for the public inquiry can be found at: http://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/stansted+airport/default.htm

“GENERATION 2”

In December 2003 the Government White Paper, The Future of Air Transport, concluded that there was a need for two new runways in the South East of England and that Stansted Airport should be the location for the first of these to be built.

Since the publication of the White Paper BAA has been examining all available options for the location of the new runway and for the associated development that will be required within the extended airport boundary. BAA has called this project Generation 2. In December 2005 BAA published a consultation report titled “Stansted Generation 2”.

As a result of this the Council received presentations from both BAA and “Stop Stansted Expansion”, before deciding its response to the document.

At a meeting of the Council on the 15th March 2006 the Council decided that its response to this report should be as follows:

(1) That BAA be advised that, in view of the limited information contained in the report, it is considered that it would be inappropriate for this Council to express a preference for any of the options for the location of a second runway now presented

(2) That, in view of its adverse environmental impact, the development of a second runway at Stansted Airport be opposed

(3) That BAA be advised that this Council wishes to see the issues set out in paragraph 18 of the attached background report addressed as part of any planning application for the development of a second runway at Stansted Airport.

(4) This Council will work with local authorities in Essex and local authorities bordering Essex that oppose the major expansion plans of the BAA in order to help ensure a strong and united position for the protection of our shared environment.

(5) That paragraph 18 to the report be amended to ADD "plus improved rail links to the west" after "…..consideration of a rail link to the east" and that a health impact assessment be requested by BAA when submitting the planning application.

On 31st January 2007 BAA announced its preferred option for the planned expansion and second runway.  Further details can be found at: http://www.stanstedairport.com/portal/site/default/menuitem.afb1e613b642eba2769891109328c1a0/

Braintree District Council has now received notification from Uttlesford District Council that BAA has submitted a planning application for Stansted Airport's G2 Airport Project which consists of a second runway and associated development.

Details of the applications can be found at:
http://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/stansted+airport/default.htm

Braintree District Council considered its response to the application at its Cabinet meeting of 2nd June 2008, the agenda and minutes of the meeting can be viewed at:
http://www.braintree.gov.uk/Braintree/councildemocracy/committees/Cabinet/2nd+July+2008.htm