Airports policy, planning and London

Tony TraversLondon School of Economics

Planning for London and the Greater South East

• London has a strategic planning capability• London Plan (also borough plans)

• GSE does not• London Plan + unitary and district councils’ local plans

• Whitehall rarely steps in with ‘area’ plans, except• Major schemes, eg, HS2, Olympics• Ministerial rulings on major planning decisions following an appeal• Airports Commission (sort of)

• Heathrow is on the boundary of London and the SE region

• GLA, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Slough, Spelthorne (and Surrey)

If Heathrow were to expand….

• Economic benefits (net)• National • Local

Also, of course….

• Environmental costs (net)• National• Local

The Airport Commission's report

The Airport Commission's report

Maximising benefit/minimising problems

Who should manage the process?

Managing expansion

• As the AC suggests, a dedicated ‘urban development corporation’-type body may be required to manage the process

• Like Olympic Development Authority, LDDC• transport, road management, housing, retail, offices etc

• Development will attract employment and residents to London, Slough, Spelthorne and surrounding area

• Mayor of London to initiate?• But needs full buy-in from all other local authorities• Also HAL and other key companies• …and a degree of public accountability…

Airports policy, planning and London

Tony TraversLondon School of Economics