Stansted Airport hopes to double its passenger numbers to around 40 to 45million and generate billions of pounds for the regional economy by developing its existing runway and infrastructure it said today as it launched a public consultation on its plans.
The airport, which unveiled its draft Sustainable Development Plan, said it hoped to unlock jobs and economic growth in the region with the creation of new routes and more flights within a “responsible and sustainable” framework.
The business, which is owned by Manchester Airport Group (MAG), sees considerable growth potential for the airport, even within its single runway structure.
The current shortlist of options for new runway capacity doesn’t include Stansted. However, the Airports Commission has said that Stansted is a credible option for a new runway in the period after 2030.
Stansted says existing capacity has the potential to support an extra 10,000 on-site jobs and generate £4.6billion in additional economic benefit as it unveiled draft plans for the aiport over the next 10 to 15 years.
Growth is achievable within agreed noise and air quality limits and existing boundaries, it said, with the “key enabler” of growth in the London-Stansted-Cambridge corridor and east London.
The plan will help inform its final recommendations to Government on the contribution that Stansted’s existing capacity will make to meeting demand over the next 10-15 years, it said.
The launch of the draft plan, which was welcomed by airlines and tourism and business leaders, is a key element of Stansted’s on-going consultation on how to develop the airport to make more effective use of existing capacity.
It said that as part of its commitment to increase the level of engagement with local communities, it will be holding a series of public exhibitions in local towns and villages during September and October. Those with an interest in the airport’s future are being encouraged to visit an exhibition to hear more about the plans and give their views.
Managing director Andrew Harrison said the growth of the airport would be be “of enormous value” as the UK strives to develop its global connectivity to support increased trade and investment.
“This plan highlights the vital role that the existing capacity of Stansted’s single runway will play over the next 10-15 years in meeting these challenges, showing how the airport can more than double the number of passengers it serves and provide greater choice and variety for passengers,” he said.
Protest group Stop Stansted Expansion said: “Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) welcomes the publication today of Stansted Airport’s new long term plan, which it describes as its ‘Sustainable Development Plan’ (SDP) for Stansted. Importantly the plan is based on Stansted remaining as a single runway airport.
“The SDP has been published as a draft for consultation and we believe there is considerable scope for constructive dialogue with the airport. SSE will be submitting a detailed response in due course.”
The consultation runs until November 7.
The public exhibition will be at the following locations: September 9, 3-8pm, Village Hall, Hatfield Broad Oak; September 11, 3-8pm, Leisure Centre, Harlow; September 15, 3-8pm, The Swan, Thaxted; September 17, 3-8pm, Town Hall, Saffron Walden; September 23, 3-8pm; Town Hall, Braintree; September 25, 4-8pm, Rhodes Centre Bishop’s Stortford; October 3, 3-8pm, Silver Jubilee Hall Takeley; October 9, 4-8pm, Rhodes Centre Bishop’s Stortford; October 16, 4-8pm, Crafton Day Centre, Stansted Mountfitchet; October 21, 3-8pm, Foakes Hall, Great Dunmow.
For more details, visit www.stanstedairport.com/developmentplan.
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