Inner Thames Estuary Feasibility Study – Transport for London’s response to call for evidence

by | May 23, 2014 | Airports Commission, Free Publications | 0 comments

PDF Icon Inner Thames Estuary Feasibility Study – TfL Response to Call for Evidence

This report is the response by Transport for London on behalf of the Mayor of London to the call for evidence on an Inner Thames Estuary airport issued by the Airports Commission earlier this year. It has three components:

1. It responds to the Commission’s request for evidence in four study areas. Each of the 35 issues that the Commission identified with a bullet point in their Inner Thames Estuary Feasibility Studies: Terms of reference document.

2. It provides additional evidence in other areas not identified in the Terms of Reference, which the Commission must also consider in its assessment as it decides whether to shortlist a new hub airport in the ITE.

3. It sets out a comparison of an ITE option against the three options currently on the Airports Commission’s shortlist.

  • Accompanying this document are a series of technical notes which support the evidence and statements made herein.
  • The Mayor and TfL are not engaging as a promoter, and are keen to continue to support the work of the Commission as it develops and assesses all of the options which remain on the table.

Key Findings

The report argues that:

  • The potential impacts of a new ITE hub airport on the local environment could be significant, but there are no legal or practical obstacles to mitigating and compensating for these.
  • There are no insurmountable operational issues facing a new airport; detailed assessment in the next phase will identify the best strategies for issues such as transition, airspace and meteorological conditions.
  • The economic and regeneration benefits of a new ITE hub airport, together with the potential of a Heathrow site released for redevelopment, are significant and can support a long term sustainable development strategy for London beyond 2036.
  • A comprehensive surface access network for the new airport is credible and deliverable at a cost which is comparable to the shortlisted options.
  • Comparing the options on a credible, like-for-like basis, an ITE airport is both fundable and deliverable.