GATWICK MASTER PLAN 2019

GATWICK MASTER PLAN - NCS update October

Click on above for latest NCS comments regarding this proposed plan 

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GATWICK CO-ORDINATION GROUP OPPOSE GATWICK AIRPORT MASTERPLAN PROPOSALS

MP's from the Gatwick Co-ordination Group have expressed concerns about the rapid growth plans for Gatwick Airport. This follows Gatwick Airport's announcement of expansion plans for what could be a three runway airport.

The MP's shared the following statement:

"Gatwick has grown significantly over the past decade. It has offered greater numbers of flights to more destinations and created jobs in the process. However, the benefits of growth have not been well distributed with the local community.

"More people are impacted by Gatwick's noise operations than 10 years ago, both close to the airport and many miles away under flightpaths, creating health issues for local residents and congestion through inadequate infrastructure.

"Over the past few years Gatwick Airport has continually under invested in the local amenities and social infrastructure that would be required to support a project of this size and scale. We cannot support expansion of the Airport without a comprehensive investment in the local area which would ease pressure on the over-stretched road and rail systems serving the airport.

"At a time of increasing concern about the environmental impact of global aviation growth, the proposed expansion plans would see a marked increase in carbon emissions, with clearer environmental consequences for us all. We should not be looking at unchecked expansion at our local airports but seeking managed growth that is proportionate to our other national priorities.

"The safeguarding of land for a new full runway is a clear indication that Gatwick has future plans to build a third runway, as well as converting the current standby runway into a second runway.      

With today's announcement it is now clear that Gatwick Airport's new owners are determined to push for rapid commercial expansion and aviation growth despite the restrictions imposed upon the airport by its poor transport connections and its rural position adjacent to Green Belt land as well as the arguments made against a third runway at Gatwick in the London Runway Review.

"We are keen to enable the airport to make viable returns for its shareholders however this also requires a sustainable and achievable plan for the future of Gatwick Airport which acknowledges the limitations on aviation growth at the site that exist due to local infrastructure, environmental and geographical factors.

"Gatwick Airport's plans to build up to have up to three runways in operation do not represent a sustainable plan for the environment and the local community. It would mean more noise, more carbon emissions, faster climate change, more health problems for local residents and greater congestion. We have written to the Secretary of State to indicate our opposition."

• Sir Paul Beresford MP, Member of Parliament for Mole Valley
• Crispin Blunt MP, Member of Parliament for Reigate
• The Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells
• Gillian Keegan MP, Member of Parliament for Chichester
• The Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Soames MP, Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex
• Tom Tugendhat MP, Member of Parliament for Tonbridge and Malling

cc: The Rt Hon Anne Milton MP, Member of Parliament for Guildford
      Jeremy Quin MP, Member of Parliament for Horsham

We are awaiting confirmation of the position being taken by East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah

Local Plan updates - a) Reigate&Banstead b) Tandridge

a) Reigate&Banstead Plan update:

The Council has now received the report of Helen Hockenhull BA (Hons) B.PI MRTPI into the Reigate&Banstead Development Management Plan (DMP)
Her report is available to view and download from the Concil's website at 
www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/dmp.

Extracts below relevant to Nutfield:

Redhill Aerodrome site
It has not been demonstrated that exceptional circumstances exist for the Redhill Aerodrome site to be removed from the Green Belt and safeguarded for development

Surrey hills AONB to be afforded the highest level of protection.

AGLV designation has been in place since the 1950's and provides an important buffer to the AONB protecting views into the area.

East Surrey Hospital site (incl adjacent land to the east) total 26 hectares
The inspector is satisfied there are exceptional circumstances for the hospital site to be removed from the Green Belt which will allow planned expansion of the hospital site.

b) Tandridge Plan update:

The Tandridge Local Plan has been awarded £150,000 by the Government to help progress the design and delivery of a Garden Community in South Godstone. This is one of 19 similar awards. The award does not mean that formal planning approval has been given and the proposed development will still be subject to the Local Plan Examination which we understand has been postponed until October 2019.  

See full details: garden-village-update July 2019

The council said the money would help progress the design and delivery of the new community which would include affordable homes, schools, healthcare facilities and upgraded transport links. Being part of the government programme would give the authority access to extensive support and expertise "to help overcome any barriers which might affect the delivery".

Biggin Hill Consultation - Design Principles

See: NCS submission to Biggin Hill Airspace Design Principles Questionnaire


Biggin Hill response
Dear Stakeholder,   We have now completed the initial phase of our engagement to establish our Design Principles for the redevelopment of the Airspace in the Southeast of England.
Thank you very much to those who have responded to our Design Principles Questionnaire or for attending a focus group event. We are very grateful for everybody’s engagement with the process and for all of the views expressed by the various representative bodies and individuals.
The questionnaire responses have been analysed along with the comments and discussion recorded during the focus groups to formulate an initial list of Design Principles. We now need your help to provide further comments on the list and to help us understand which Design Principles are most important to you or your organisations.
Please take a look at the attached Design Principles. For each of the ten Design Principles we would like you to complete the table as follows:
1. Do you agree with this Design Principle:  Yes or No
2. Please rank the 10 Design Principles in order of priority from 1 Highest to 10 Lowest.
3. If you feel any of the Design Principles are not applicable to you, please mark it as ‘0’.
4. Please use the Comments Box to provide comments as to why you agree or disagree with the Design Principle or to suggest any additional Design Principles you feel ought to be considered by us.

WWF Biodiversity Report Released

THE WORLD'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE STATE OF NATURE

will highlight the distressing impact that humanity is having on the natural world.

It states that species are being lost at the fastest ever rate - mainly driven by the changing use of land. The study analyses the impacts that the changing use of land is having on nature. Forest clearing for agriculture (fuelled by increased consumption of animal products), has driven many native species from their ancient homes. Overfishing has caused the decimation of fish stocks in most parts of the world.

The report warns that the speed of loss is likely to increase in the coming decades, pushing vast numbers of species towards extinction.

While the demise of species, resulting from deforestation and land clearing in developing countries is well documented in the report, the threat to nature is just as significant in richer countries.

Friends of the Earth has published a list below of some of the most threatened species in the UK and Europe.

Skylark: Well known for its flight pattern, the skylark has declined by 50% over the past 40 years across Europe, mainly due to changes in farming practices that have resulted in the loss of nesting sites and food sources.

Small Blue Butterfly: This has declined in the most parts of the UK, with numbers down 38% since the 1970s.

Bees and hoverflies: Recent studies show that around one third of the 353 wild bee and hoverfly species in the UK are in decline. Factors include habitat loss, climate change, pesticides and disease.

Red Squirrels, wildcats and long-eared bats: All facing severe threats to their survival from a number of sources, including invasive species, road deaths and the use of pesticides.

Hedgehogs: Almost half of rural hedgehogs in the UK and a third in urban areas have been lost. The reasons are not fully understood but are likely to include the loss of key habitat features such as hedges.

> SEE FULL REPORT

Wild bee species are in decline                   Half of rural hedgehogs have been lost     

                  

 Skylarks have declined by 50%                     Wild cats are now a rare sight in the UK       

       

       

         

TANDRIDGE LOCAL PLAN - UPDATE Feb 2019

Tandridge District Council is working with Homes England, the Highways Agency and Surrey and West Sussex County Councils to draw up a detailed business case for submission to the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund. The funding relates to upgrade works for junction 6 of the M25 and the Felbridge junction on the A22.

Council noted the findings of the planning inspector who recently reviewed Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s (RBBC) plan. The inspector agreed with Tandridge District Council in finding the Redhill Aerodrome site to be undeliverable, because there is no commitment from Highways England to provide a new junction from the M23.

Consequently, the inspector went on to advise against RBBC’s plans to release from the Green Belt that part of the site which lies within its boundary and against safeguarding the land for future development.

Full update attached >Tandridge Local Plan - latest update Feb 2019

Tandridge District Council Local Plan - Examination In Public Inspectors Initial Letter of Clarification ID/2 to the Council

Tandridge District Council Local Plan -Examination in Public Chris Banks is the Programme Officer for the Tandridge District Council Local Plan Examination in Public. He is the main point of contact for all matters relating to the the hearing process from now onward. His role is independent and he reports to the Planning Inspector Mr Philip Lewis BA(Hons) MA MRTPI who has been appointed by the Secretary of State to to consider the soundness of the Local Plan Core Strategy. and to conduct the Examination in Public.  The Inspector has issued a Letter of Clarification to the council. and as a result TDC are projecting that the Hearings will not take place until Mid September 2019.  See Inspector's Letter ID/2

Plans for Nutfield Green Park

Please see the details of a proposed development sent to NCS in April 2019

Proposed Development - Nutfield Green Park

This involves plans for an Activity Park development to be located on the old Laportes land to the north of the A25 at Nutfield. Plans will include an Activity Centre, a Nursing Home plus 105 Housing units.

Development is stated to involve up to 60 HGVs per day (120 movements) with planned access onto the A25 where the red dot is showing - to the east of Nutfield Cemetery. 

Potential access for leisure use is shown as a green dot on Church Hill - at the car park opposite the Church of St Peter & St Paul.   New cottages are planned alongside existing cottages east of the Inn on The Pond and Nutfield Cricket Ground per map below.

Redhill Aerodrome - Planning App for Revised Taxiway

   

   While the planning application does not constitute complete reinstatement to the state which existed prior to the works undertaken, NCS are pleased to note the intention to remove 4 metres width of hard standing and reinstate a grass surface to this area.

                                                    

       >See NCS Comments on Planning Application

REDHILL AERODROME SITE REMOVED FROM REIGATE&BANSTEAD PLAN

Reigate&BansteadCouncil remove Redhill-Aerodrome site from Housing Plan

The controversial notion of building homes on the Redhill Aerodrome site is to be deleted from the Reigate & Banstead blueprint for future housing.

Following hearings last year, the planning inspector appointed to scrutinise the authority's Development Management Plan (DMP) has agreed the land should not be earmarked as a 'safeguarded site' for housing after 2027, as initially proposed by the council.  The inspector, Helen Hockenhull, concluded there was "insufficient evidence to demonstrate the exceptional circumstances required" for the aerodrome to be released from the green belt for this purpose.
See>Inspector's Post Hearing Advice - 15 Jan 2019

TANDRIDGE COUNCIL PLAN 2033 SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE

Submission of Tandridge District Local Plan 2033 

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) 

(Regulation 20) and Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2012 (Regulation 22)

Notice is given in accordance with the above Regulations that, on Friday 18 January 2019, Tandridge District Council submitted the Council’s Local Plan 2033 to the Secretary of State for independent examination under Regulation 22 of the Town and County Planning (Local Development England) Regulations 2012, along with the supporting documents.

Subject matter and Geographical Area

The Local Plan 2033 presents: the spatial strategy, the policies and proposals to deliver homes (both market and affordable), employment and infrastructure for the plan period to 2033. The Plan puts in place greater protections for our landscape and natural and historic environment and sets out the requirements for open space and sports provision, flood mitigation and green and blue infrastructure. The housing delivery target for the plan is 6056, some of which will be met by a Garden Community development at South Godstone. The plan is underpinned by an ambitious economic strategy and is heavily infrastructure led and will seek to deliver new primary and secondary school provision, health facilities, road and rail improvements, open spaces and flood mitigation.

The policies of the Local Plan 2033, cover the full administrative area of the District.

Where can documents be viewed?

Hard Copies

The Submission Plan, Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Report, Regulation 22: Statement of Consultation and all supporting documents are available for public inspection at the front desk of the main Council offices: Tandridge District Council Offices, 8 Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey RH8 0BT between the opening hours of 08:30 and 17:00 Monday to Thursday and 8:30 to 16:30, on Fridays.

The submission version of the Local Plan 2033 and the proposed new policies maps, can also be viewed in all libraries across the District. Opening hours of libraries can be found at: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/libraries/your-library/find-your-nearest

Online

The Submission Plan and all supporting documents are also available to view on the Council’s website at: www.tandridge.gov.uk/localplan

Contact the Strategy Team on: 01883 722000 

or email: localplan@tandridge.gov.uk, should you have any questions.

GATWICK AIRPORT DRAFT MASTER PLAN 2018

OPPOSITION MOUNTS TO GATWICK DRAFT MASTER PLAN 2018 INVOLVING USE OF THE EXISTING EMERGENCY RUNWAY.

The standby runway is located 198m to the north of the main runway and was granted planning permission in 1979. It provides an alternative runway for use when the main runway is closed for maintenance or as a result of an incident. One of the conditions of the planning permission was that it could not be used simultaneously with the main runway. The simultaneous use of both runways is also ruled out by a Section 52 Agreement with West Sussex County Council. However this agreement expires in 2019.

The Airports Commission selected Heathrow to provide additional runway capacity in the South East - Government and Parliament have endorsed that recommendation. There is no national justification to expand Gatwick Airport.

See NCS submission - Gatwick Master Plan 2018

Campaign Group GON (Gatwick Obviously Not) commented:

The growth proposals in the master plan would further enrich the airport's shareholders whilst inflicting more flights, more noise, more emissions and more public transport congestion and over-crowding on local people and those under flight paths.

See GON Group submission - Gatwick Master Plan 2018

The proposals to increase runway capacity are all dedicated to increasing passenger numbers and flight volume. This will adversely increase both noise and air quality impacts. NCS consider that plans to increase runway capacity should be discontinued. The parish of Nutfield is already affected by the change in departure routes announced in 2013 which involves an increased volume of Gatwick aircraft flying at 3000ft (and sometimes lower) over the parish. We have called for this height to be increased to a minimum 5000ft which would reduce the environmental impact of the change adopted on departure route 3        See >Gatwick proposed height changes on Departure R3

The environmental impacts are increasing within current growth levels without considering any increased additional runway facility. Gatwick should be addressing how to reduce the escalating contributions they are making to the adverse effects on the environment. 

The Government acknowledge the nation cannot meet the stated carbon emission targets and commitments. Aviation-related expansion will only increase the pressure to meet these levels and the planned runway expansion at Gatwick should therefore be avoided as this is considered unnecessary.

Gatwick should actively listen to the opposition presented and respond meaningfully to the negative aspects of aviation rather than pursuing goals that merely favour the industry from a financial standpoint.