Comment
London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan Preferred Options
Representation ID: 14310
Received: 03/06/2009
Respondent: Highways England
Although the JAAP states that an increase in freight movements as a result of the airport expansion is unlikely, it is possible that development of an aviation cluster will draw additioinal HGV traffic into the boroughs which could in turn create an impact on the trunk road network. Paragraph 2, page 10 of the sustainability appraisal states that '...if the JAAP area allows space for freight storage and related activities there will be an inflow of HGVs implying increased traffic and noise...The effect on transport , air and noise quality is assessed to be significantly negative.' The HA would therefore request to be informed of any future proposals that would result in a substantial increase in HGV movements from the JAAP site.
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.