By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

Carrying out work on 29 trees in a Southampton cemetery could lead to the creation of more than a thousand jobs and provide a £75million annual economic boost to the local area, according to a report supporting the airport’s application.

Permission is being sought from Southampton City Council to fell 19 trees and perform management work on a further ten trees in South Stoneham Cemetery.

The airport said the various species present an “obstacle to departing and arriving aircraft”.

Proposals have come forward after an audit from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) found there was an inability to effectively manage the obstacle environment around the airfield.

A report prepared in support of the airport’s licence request by Savills said: “The successful management of the 29 trees would assist Southampton International Airport Limited in realising the full benefits associated with the approved, and now implemented runway extension.

“This would provide significant economic benefits to both Southampton and the wider region.”

Savills’s report said these forecasted benefits include the creation of an additional 1,050 jobs locally and a boost to the local economy to the tune of £75million gross value added a year over the long term.

The trees identified as an “obstacle” in the cemetery, which is on council land, act as a “significant barrier” to the operation of the airport, the Savills report said.

It added: “The benefits of the runway extension cannot currently be fully realised as a consequence of a number of obstacles situated to the south of the airport.

“This includes the 29 trees forming the subject of this tree management request, which restricts an alternative route for aircraft to use in an emergency rather than flying over Marlhill Copse.”

Aircraft currently must operate from Southampton Airport with weight restrictions in order to achieve safe clearance over trees in the event of an engine failure.

This reduces passenger numbers and is said to make the airport “unattractive” to operators when considering where to base their operations.

 Image: SCC

Savills’s report said becoming an operator’s “home base” was key to the economic success of the airport, adding that it was the “primary motivation” behind the runway extension.

The tree works licence request is due to be considered by Southampton City Council’s cabinet at a meeting on Tuesday, July 15.

A council officer’s report said the airport had advised that if the local authority could not agree to works at either South Stoneham Cemetery or Marlhill Copse, it would need to explore a formal request to government.

Southampton Airport saw an application to fell protected trees in Marlhill Copse refused by the council’s planning and rights of way panel in February 2024.

This came after years of campaigners calling for the woodland to be protected.

No tree works in Marlhill Copse are proposed in the airport’s latest licence request to the council.

An assessment by the local authority’s tree officer said the cemetery plans include felling five category A trees (the highest value), 11 category B and three category C.

Cabinet members will be asked to assess the impact of the proposal on the amenity of the area and whether the proposal is justified, having consideration to the reasons and information put forward by the airport.

Wider environmental and ecological impacts of the proposed habitat removal, tree management and felling, and the impact the works will have on the character of the existing cemetery for its users will also need to be considered.

The airport has tabled a proposed compensation scheme to mitigate the loss, which includes replacement tree planting at a ratio of 4:1 within Southampton and the creation of a new wildlife meadow in the city.

In response to questions from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a spokesperson for Southampton Airport said: “As an airport operator we must comply with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations which mandate the removal or management of any obstacles that present a hazard to aircraft.

“Our application to Southampton City Council relates to 29 trees that have been identified as presenting an obstacle to departing and arriving aircraft.

“As part of our legal requirement to maintain a clear and safe airspace, we already work closely with the council and local landowners to undertake regular obstacle surveys.

“This includes trimming or removing trees that pose a risk, while also considering environmental and community impacts.

“Our application sets out our intention to continue to work positively with the council to agree an appropriate way forward which would include agreeing a range of measures to enhance the biodiversity of the local area.

“Not being able to provide a safe operating environment will have a direct impact on our ability to enhance our connectivity that plays such a vital role in driving the economic and social prosperity of the region.”