Policy T8 — Aviation

Policy T8 Aviation A The Mayor supports the role of the airports serving London in enhancing the city’s spatial growth, particularly within Opportunity Areas well connected to the airports by public transport and which can accommodate significant numbers of new homes and jobs. This should be reflected in relevant Development Plans and other area-based strategies. B The environmental and health impacts of aviation must be fully acknowledged and aviation-related development proposals should include mitigation measures that fully meet their external and environmental costs, particularly in respect of noise, air quality and climate change. Any airport expansion scheme must be appropriately assessed and if required demonstrate that there is an overriding public interest or no suitable alternative solution with fewer environmental impacts. C The Mayor will oppose the expansion of Heathrow Airport unless it can be shown that no additional noise or air quality harm would result, and that the benefits of future regulatory and technology improvements would be fairly shared with affected communities. D All airport expansion development proposals that would impact on passenger movements through London should demonstrate how public transport and other surface access networks would accommodate resulting increases in demand alongside forecast background growth; this should include credible plans by the airport for funding and delivery of the required infrastructure. E Development proposals that would lead to changes in airport operations or air traffic movements must take full account of their environmental impacts and the views of affected communities. Any changes to London’s airspace must treat London’s major airports equitably when airspace is allocated. F Development proposals should make better use of existing airport capacity, underpinned by upgraded passenger and freight facilities and improved surface access links, in particular rail. G Airport operators should work closely with airlines, Transport for London and other transport providers and stakeholders to ensure straightforward, seamless and integrated connectivity and to improve facilities and inclusive access. They should also increase the proportion of journeys passengers and staff make by sustainable means such as rail, bus and cycling, and minimise the environmental impacts of airport servicing and onward freight transport. H Development proposals relating to general and business aviation activity should only be supported if they would not lead to additional environmental harm or negative effects on health, nor impact on scheduled flight operations. Any significant shift in the mix of operations using an airport – for example, the introduction of scheduled flights at airports not generally offering such flights – should be refused. I New heliports should be refused, other than for emergency services. 10.8.1 London’s airports form part of a single wider aviation system whose impacts are felt across local authority boundaries. This policy therefore establishes a strategic approach to aviation within London and provides guidance for decision takers outside of London. The primary focus of the policy is the planning system, but it also serves to inform other processes, such as the development of Airport Masterplans, as well as wider discussions with stakeholders. 10.8.2 London’s major airports provide essential connectivity for passengers and freight, support vital trade, inward investment and tourism, generate prosperity, and provide and support significant numbers of jobs. The aviation industry must fully address its environmental and health impacts . Government and industry must also recognise local communities’ concerns about aviation noise and pollution, consult fully with those affected, and use new technologies to deliver tangible reductions in noise exposure and pollution. 10.8.3 It is important, in the first instance, to make best use of existing airport capacity , which fast, frequent, sustainable surface access can support. Opportunity Areas with excellent airport rail connections can serve as airport gateways and be the focus for new development, in turn helping meet London’s need for new homes and jobs. Any airport expansion proposals should not be at the expense of London’s environment or the health of its residents. Heathrow airport’s current operations are already a cause of concern for hundreds of thousands of Londoners, ‎with its significant noise impacts and contribution to illegal levels of air pollution. 10.8.4 Any airport expansion proposals should only be taken forward on the basis that noise impacts are avoided, minimised and mitigated, and proposals should not seek to claim or utilise noise improvements resulting from technology improvements unrelated to expansion. Nor should expansion result in significant numbers of new people being exposed to new or additional noise harm. 10.8.5 Any airport expansion proposals should not worsen existing air quality or contribute to exceedance of air quality limits, nor should they seek to claim or utilise air quality improvements resulting from unrelated Mayoral, local or national policies and actions. Airport expansion should also incorporate air quality positive principles to minimise operational and construction impacts. 10.8.6 The Mayor will therefore strongly oppose any expansion of Heathrow Airport that would result in additional environmental harm or negative public health impacts. Air quality gains secured by the Mayor or noise reductions resulting from new technology must be used to improve public health, not to support expansion. The Mayor also believes that expansion at Gatwick could deliver significant benefits to London and the UK more quickly, at less cost, and with significantly fewer adverse environmental impacts. Stansted Airport will, in due course, be able to make better use of its single runway following the raising of its flight cap, alongside appropriate enviLondon Plan Policy T8 · official source →