Support

Representation ID: 32618

Received: 15/04/2013

Respondent: Essex County Council

Paragraph 2.1 and 2.2

Essex County Council welcomes the production of the Joint Area Action Plan setting out policies and proposals for the future development of London Southend Airport and its environs. The Plan should assist the Airport, with the proposed adjacent employment areas, to realise its potential as a driver for the sub-regional economy. The area covered by the Plan has consistently been identified as a key spatial driver for regeneration and growth within Thames Gateway South Essex.

The re-emergence of London Southend Airport as a fully functioning regional airport with scheduled passenger services is already having a catalytic effect on the image of Southend and South Essex. The Full Time Equivalent jobs to be created with the growth of the Airport are a key component for achieving sub-regional jobs targets. But, equally important the Joint Area Action Plan, by including proposals for additional employment land, affords the opportunity to achieve business retention and growth in the area. In particular, the Plan should assist the successful cluster of high-tech engineering and manufacturing sector around the airport which is important to the South Essex economy because of the number of highly skilled well-paid jobs that it brings to the sub-region.

Nevertheless, expansion of the Airport and the development of additional employment opportunity should be accommodated with minimum environmental and amenity impact.