The Mayor of Newham has raised her concerns with London City Airport’s Draft Master Plan stating that issues relating to ‘noise, air quality and climate change have not been fully addressed’.
In an open letter to the airport, Mayor Fiaz outlined her concerns over the Draft Master Plan, which suggests that a forecast increase in passenger demand could see a dramatic increase in flights to and from London City Airport and could exacerbate the climate emergency within the borough.
Mayor Fiaz’s letter comes as Newham Council’s Planning Service issued their consultation response to London City Airport, which includes opposition to various elements of the draft Plan. The council is committed to tackling the climate emergency and has pledged to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon zero by 2050. Mayor Fiaz previously issued a public letter to London City Airport raising concerns in August.
As the Local Planning Authority, Newham Council has raised its opposition to:
- the extension of operating hours, including any reduction or removal of the existing weekend ‘respite’ period;
- any increase in the intensity of operations during the early morning and late evening, and;
- any changes to the plan currently in place which ensures the Airport will reduce its noise levels by 2030.
In the letter, Mayor Fiaz said: “I note that Newham’s Local Planning Authority has provided its consultation response today, which I endorse as Lead Member for Planning. I remain concerned that the potentially harmful effects of any further Airport expansion – in particular relating to noise, air quality and climate change – have not been fully addressed by the additional information provided.
“I take this opportunity to emphasise my absolute commitment to the health and well-being of the residents of Newham.
“The Draft Master Plan offers no justification, in environmental terms, for the intensification of flights early in the morning and the reduction of the weekend respite period, currently enjoyed by the residents of Newham. These and other issues have been raised with the Council by local residents and those living outside the Borough in no uncertain terms. I would therefore anticipate that the final version of the Master Plan, when published, would specifically exclude these options.
“I look forward to a comprehensively revised final version of the Master Plan that incorporates the needs and aspirations of the people of Newham.”
The Draft Master Plan forecasts an increase in the number of passengers from the current permitted limit of 6.5 million each year to 11 million, and an increase in the number of flights to and from the current permitted limit of 111,000 to 151,000 by 2035, representing a 36 per cent increase.
Consultation for London City Airport’s Draft Master Plan took place over four months during the Summer and asked for views on its vision for the next 15 years.