Comment
London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan Preferred Options
Representation ID: 14303
Received: 03/06/2009
Respondent: Highways England
It is noted that passenger trips are expected to rise as a result of the proposals. The 2005 Masterplan states that in the medium to longer term the airport could grow to become similar in terms of passenger and aircraft movements to London and Southampton City airports. Figure 3.3 of the JAAP evidence report for London Southend airport indicates that the floating catchment area of the airport extends to the M25 and beyond. The HA would be conerned if the impact of development proposals created a significant impact to traffic flows on the trunk road network in the area, including the A13 and junction 29 of the M25 motorway. We therefore request that the impact of development proposals on the local and wider road networks, including juntion 29, is quantified and outlined within the JAAP. The outputs of this analysis should then be used to inform the Transport Strategy and then establish measures to manage demand.
1.Thank you for inviting the Highways Agency (HA) to comment on the London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan (JAAP) and the associated Sustainability Appraisal (SA) produced by Rochford District Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.
2. As you may have noted from our previous correspondence, the HA is an executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT). We are responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's strategic road network (SRN, Motorways and Trunk Roads) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport. Although there are no trunk roads within the Borough Boundary, the Highways Agency considers that the expansion of London Southend Airport may have an impact on the SRN outside the borough, and in particular the A13 and Junctions 29 and 30 of the M25 motorway.
3. In spatial planning and development control terms, we have a duty to safeguard the operation of the motorway and trunk road network as set out in the DfT circular 02/2007 (Planning and the Strategic Road Network). The circular encourages the HA to work co-operatively with Local Planning Authorities within the framework of the Government's policies for planning, growth areas, regeneration, integrated transport and sustainability. We look to your Council's Local Development Framework (LDF) to promote strategies, policies and land allocations which will support alternatives to the private car.
4. Please see below our comments following a review of the document from a transport perspective.
I trust you will find our comments helpful and we would, of course, be pleased to meet you to discuss our comments, or any other issues that may relate directly to, or could have an impact on, the trunk road network.