The public now has until January 3 January 16 to comment on Southampton Airport’s planning application to Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC), to extend its runway by 164 metres to the north and to create 600 new parking spaces.
l
Article continues after this message...
Although EBC, which declared a climate change and environmental emergency in July, is the planning authority, residents from Southampton can also comment via the application on Eastleigh’s website, which is here.
In November Southampton City Council (SCC) declined to take a position against airport expansion ahead of the planning application being submitted, after a 1,900-signature petition secured a (brief) debate on the issue in the council chamber (pictured).
Councillors from both sides said they wanted more information before taking a view.
The council did agree to consult residents before making its own response to Eastleigh’s planners, although time is now very short indeed: comments to Southampton City Council should be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with full name and postal address, quoting the reference 19/02021/CONSUL, according to a letter to residents received over the Christmas period from Bitterne Park councillors.
The deadline to make comments to SCC is December 31.
The airport says in its masterplan, which it now calls ‘A Vision For Sustainable Growth’, that: “A runway starter extension would allow larger narrow-body aircraft, such as the Airbus A319/A320 and Boeing 737-800 with 150-190 seats, to operate without major restrictions to a more distant and much wider route network from Southampton Airport, covering a range of European destinations.” (PDF page 14/document page 27).
Increases in passengers and air traffic forecast
The plan outlines a predicted increase in passengers from two million in 2017 to four million by 2027, and five million by 2037.
Air transport movements could increase from 39,300 in 2017 to 53,100 in 2027, and 57,800 by 2037 according to the plan, which also makes predictions about the airport’s economic and employment impact on the region.
Pressure group Airport Expansion Opposition Southampton (AXO) has published its own draft objection to the planning application on its website, which includes detailed points about “increased traffic”, noise, carbon dioxide emissions, economic ‘benefits’ and more.
And the group’s response to SCC begins: “Since almost all of the harm resulting from expansion is to be borne by residents of Southampton, mostly those living near the airport or under the flight path, we believe the City Council must scrutinise the economic case very closely to determine whether the benefits to the city are in proportion to the costs. We believe they are not.”
AXO’s detailed response to SCC is here.
Updated 10/1/20 with new deadline to comment on EBC application of January 16