New controls for London Southend Airport have been agreed after listening to residents’ views.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, in conjunction with Rochford District Council, has negotiated new measures as a requirement of proposed expansion to the airport, to control environmental issues. These include air quality, better noise control, flight direction and restrictions on night flying, all areas particularly highlighted by residents during consultation.

Councillor Nigel Holdcroft, Leader of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, says: “We have been listening to what people have had to say about the airport and we are taking action on areas particularly highlighted as most  concerning to our residents.”

“As the landowner, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, together with Rochford District Council, has negotiated these controls with the airport operator as a requirement of the airport improvements, and in direct response to what local people are telling us. There are compelling arguments in favour of the airport but any growth, with or without major investment, has to take into account the environmental needs of the local community.

“London Southend Airport is vital to our economy. The proposed growth of the airport will also certainly provide increased employment opportunities and help put Southend and Rochford on a footing to further recover from the global economic downturn.”

Councillor Terry Cutmore, Leader of Rochford District Council, says: “The airport is a major asset to the area and the challenge for both local authorities has been to strike a balance between realising its potential and securing its long term future and yet at the same time recognising and addressing the concerns that some local residents have with regards to any potential impact. I’m pleased to say that with our neighbouring authority, we have been able to negotiate new measures which should allow the airport to go forward but within a framework of appropriate controls; controls which currently do not exist.’’

Particular issues raised by residents included noise and flight direction, so a Noise Preferential Route policy will be introduced to minimise any nuisance to densely populated areas during night hours.

A new daytime runway policy will also be introduced to minimise the impact, in built up areas, of the direction in which aircraft take-off and land.

The impact of aircraft movements directly over Leigh-on-Sea and Eastwood during the day time (0630-2300hrs) will be reduced through the operation of a runway preference arrangement, where aircraft will land from the North East and take off to the North East whenever movement volumes allow. In any event no more than 50% of day time landings will be from the South West and less than 50% of all aircraft movements will be over the South West.

The new control measures require the airport operator to take action on:

Night time aircraft movements – The number of possible night movements will be reduced by 87% from 900 per month to 120. The definition of ‘nighttime’ will be extended by 1 ½ hours and will now be from 2300 to 0630 hours (previously midnight to 0600).

Aircraft Passenger & Cargo levels – There will be an annual cap on total aircraft movements at 53,300, although no cap on passenger numbers, as the impact of passenger growth will be tackled through the Surface Transport & Parking provisions. The total number of dedicated cargo aircraft movements to be limited to 5,330 per annum or 10% of the total number of aircraft movements, whichever is the lesser.

Surface Transport & Parking – The airport operator will be required to bring in more surface transport and parking improvements (including green travel solutions) as the airport grows. This is in addition to the new railway station funded by LSA.

Engine Testing – The current operation allows testing up to 2200 hours. This will be restricted to 0800-2000hrs, Monday to Saturday and 0900-1800hrs on Sundays.

Noise Limits & Routes to and from the airport to minimise noise impact & aircraft height – A Noise Preferential Route (NPR) policy will be adopted to minimise any nuisance to densely populated areas during night hours. A new daytime runway policy will also be introduced to minimise the impact, in built up areas, of the direction in which aircraft take-off and land.

Noise compensation & purchase schemes – Within one year of an extended runway coming into use, the airport operator will introduce property purchase and noise insulation grant schemes for qualifying properties.

Air Quality – The airport operator will be required to introduce an air quality monitoring system and an air quality management plan. LSA will also be required to regularly publish air quality data.

Instrument Landing System – The airport lease will specify the provision of a second instrument landing system in tandem with the operation of any runway extension, which will cater for approaches from the south west and will greatly improve safety.

London Southend Airport – Proposed Control Measures document