London Stansted Airport has recently concluded a comprehensive consultation, seeking input from locals on its growth plans.
The public consultation saw almost 3,000 responses from residents, workers, and students across Uttlesford, East Herts, Harlow, and the wider region.
The focus was the airport’s long-term vision for sustainable growth, aiming to accommodate up to 51 million passengers by the 2040s. The airport welcomed almost 30 million passengers in 2024.
A Strong Voice from the Community
The consultation, spanning five weeks, garnered an impressive response, with over 2,800 individuals participating.
This significant engagement underscores the community’s keen interest in the airport’s future. Notably, initial results indicate that nearly 2,000 respondents are supportive of the proposed growth plan.
Reaching a Wide Audience
Stansted Airport employed a multi-faceted approach to ensure broad engagement. This included extensive social media advertising, reaching over 750,000 views.
It also involved detailed survey work, and dedicated workshops. This proactive approach facilitated meaningful dialogue with local residents, businesses, passengers, students, and councillors.
Analyzing Community Feedback
The airport team will now dedicate time to carefully review and consider all consultation responses. This critical analysis will inform the finalization of the sustainable development plan and the planning application.
Upon the formal submission of the application, the airport will publish the full consultation results.
Key Components of the Sustainable Growth Plan
The consultation detailed the airport’s plans to prepare for the projected passenger growth over the next two decades. These plans encompass several key initiatives:
- Infrastructure Improvements: Addressing congestion at M11 Junction 8 is a priority.
- Enhanced Public Transport: The airport will allocate funding to improve local bus services, roads, and tackle fly-parking.
- Improved Rail Connectivity: Collaborative efforts with train operators will focus on enhancing the Stansted Express service.
- Renewable Energy Transition: The airport’s infrastructure will be powered by 100% renewable energy.
- Skills Development: Partnerships will aim to nearly double the size of Stansted Airport College, providing increased training opportunities for young people.
- Sustainable Travel: A target of 50% of passenger journeys via public transport will be pursued, reducing pressure on local roads.
Planning Application on the Horizon
Central to the plan is the airport’s intention to submit a planning application within the coming months. This application will seek to increase the annual passenger limit to 51 million.
It aims to achieve this while adhering to the existing flight quota and airport boundary. This approach aims to maximize capacity without increasing the number of flights.
A Commitment to Sustainable Growth
Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, expressed gratitude for the community’s participation. “I want to thank everyone for taking the time to contribute and it’s great to see so many people willing to lend their support to our plan.”
“It’s important that we get this right because we take our responsibilities as an integral part of the local community, and commitment to sustainable growth, very seriously.”
He further emphasized, “We’ll reflect on what people have said, so we can have the best version of a plan that will create more jobs, more training opportunities and more choice when flying from their local airport.”
This commitment to listening and responding to community feedback suggests Stansted Airport’s dedication to responsible and sustainable growth. The airport’s actions will be closely watched by the communities that surround it.
