London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan Preferred Options
(108) 2. Vision and Objectives
2.1 Vision
The JAAP Vision is set within the context of the regeneration and growth of Southend and Rochford as part of the Thames Gateway growth area. The shared Vision for the future development of London Southend Airport and its environs (i.e. the JAAP) is:
'An area that realises its potential as a driver for the sub-regional economy, providing significant employment opportunities and ensuring the quality of life for its residents and workers. To achieve this, the area's assets and opportunities for employment need to be supported and developed'
The Vision acknowledges that London Southend Airport is already a major employment location, for both aviation related businesses and general businesses. This is in spite of the airport having significant spare capacity for flights and the potential for new industrial and business premises to be developed adjacent to its existing area. Development of the airport and wider JAAP area will deliver employment growth contributing to the delivery of both authorities' job targets, as set out in the East of England Plan.
The vision is supported in the current and emerging policy framework in the area.
The Southend-on-Sea Core Strategy (Adopted December 2007) has as its aim
'To secure a major refocus of function and the long term sustainability of Southend as a significant urban area which serves local people in the Thames Gateway. To do this there is a need to release the potential of Southend's land and buildings to achieve measurable improvements in the town's economic prosperity, transportation networks, infrastructure and facilities; and the quality of life for all its citizens'.
Supporting this aim, Strategic Objective SO11 is to secure the regeneration of London Southend Airport to enable it to reach its potential to function as a local regional airport providing for significant new employment opportunities and improved surface access subject to environmental safeguards. It is also reinforced by the Renaissance Southend Regeneration Framework vision:
'Southend-on-Sea - the regional centre, hub for higher education and culture, a centre for international air services in South Essex - a great place to live, do business and visit!'3
The Rochford Core Strategy Preferred Options (October 2008) sets an emerging vision to 'make Rochford the place of choice in the county to live, work and visit'. Supporting this, the vision sees a flourishing new employment area underpinned by the growth on London Southend Airport that attracts high technology businesses and high value employment to the area.
2.2 Objectives of the JAAP
The following objectives have been developed within the planning context and are in conformity with current national, regional and emerging local policy. They are the guiding principles for underpinning the preferred options for the JAAP.
The objectives are:- Creation of sustainable and high value employment and other land uses within the study area;
- Maximising the economic benefits of a thriving airport and related activity;
- Ensuring appropriate improvements in sustainable transport accessibility and facilities;
- Ensuring a high quality environment for residents whether expressed through noise pollution management or protection of green space;
- Maximum return on public investment through attracting inward investment; and
- Efficient use of existing employment land resources.
The objectives outlined can be delivered through the preferred options explained in this report.
2.3 What will the JAAP area look like in 2021?
The vision for the JAAP focuses on economic growth and the delivery of new jobs. However, it is important to understand how that vision for growth will change the area. In effect, with a successful delivery of the plan's policies and proposals, how will the airport and environs look in 2021?
London Southend Airport will be a successful regional passenger airport, operating from an extended runway, and transporting between 1 and 2 million passengers per annum. Passengers will travel on quiet, fuel efficient planes from a modern terminal building linked to a railway station and with fast road access to the A127 to destinations as far away as the South of Spain. The runway extension is a key factor in the ability of the airport to accommodate the latest advances in medium sized passenger aeroplanes (100 to 150 seats), which are quieter and more fuel efficient than their predecessors and can take-off in shorter distances and more quickly depart from local airspace.
In addition to a thriving passenger business, the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities on the airport will have been developed with new facilities constructed in the Northern MRO extension. The airport will continue to carry some high value cargo, but there will be restrictions on night flights through a noise quota system.
The award winning Saxon Business Park will provide modern, sustainable spacious office accommodation and be enhanced with a green lung linking to Rochford town centre in the East and the Cherry Orchard Country Park in the West. The estate will provide space for a range of high-tech businesses, but with an emphasis on the environment technologies, and include space for new start-up businesses. The business park will provide quality jobs for local people.
In order to facilitate the construction of the runway extension, a new route will have been provided to Nestuda Way linked to a new junction and a park and ride facility on the West side of Nestuda Way. In addition, a new link road will improve access to the airport from Nestuda Way. The JAAP area will be criss-crossed by a network of walkways and cycle routes.