London Stansted has launched a consultation on its long-term plan for sustainable 20-year growth at the airport.
The Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) sets out how Stansted intends to make best use of the airport’s existing single runway and what it will do to maximise the benefits the airport brings to people and businesses locally.
It also sets out how it will manage the impact of the airport’s operation on local communities to the 2040s. This includes:
Improvements to M11 Junction 8 to reduce congestion
Ensuring half of all passenger journeys are by public transport, to relieve pressure on local roads
Funds for local bus services, roads and measures to tackle fly-parking
Working with train operators to improve the Stansted Express
Airport infrastructure powered by 100% renewable energy helping to achieve Net Zero target requirement by 2038
Working with partners to nearly double the size of Stansted Airport College, to train more young people
As part of this plan, London Stansted is proposing to submit a planning application within the next few months to increase the airport’s annual passenger limit up to 51 million passengers.
This will involve the airport growing further than its currently permitted 43 million passengers per year limit without any increase in the number of flights that the airport is already permitted to operate.
The airport’s ability to grow to serve up to 51 million passengers a year is a result of airlines planning to use larger models of modern, efficient aircraft.
The public consultation will run until 10 March with a dedicated site www.backstanstedplan.co.uk set up to submit responses and find out more details.
This is in addition to the Stansted’s regular ongoing community engagement with a wide range of local and regional stakeholders.
Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said: “Stansted today serves 30 million passengers a year, and this number is forecast to grow over the next 20 years, so it’s only sensible to start making plans now.”
“We recently announced a £1.1bn investment programme, including an extension to the existing terminal, and we’re very proud of the role we play locally, providing over 12,000 jobs.”
