London Southend Airport & Environs Joint Area Action Plan Issues & Options Paper

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan Development Plan Document: Initial Consultation on Issues and Options

Thank you for consulting Natural England on the above proposal. Your letter was received by this office on 27 June 2008. The JAAP Consultation Paper and its accompanying Draft Sustainability Appraisal have been read with interest, and we would like to commend Rochford District Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council for the clear and logical way in which the initial consultation paper is set out. Natural England would like to offer the following comments in relation to specific questions from the list in Appendix A.

Q2.2 Are there any important assets or issues missing from the assessment?

There is a danger that the assessment does not fully recognise potential impacts of expanding the current operating parameters of the airport on a wider area than that delineated within the JAAP boundary. Natural England would like to see explicit recognition and assessment of potential noise and pollution impacts on designated sites lying under the approach and climbout routes. To the south-west this would include the Benfleet and Southend Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site, while to the north-east the route would take in parts of the Crouch and Roach Estuaries SSSI, SPA and Ramsar Site and the Essex Estuaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

In addition, although the prevailing wind in the UK is usually taken to be south-westerly, this area has a significant incidence of easterly and south-easterly airflows. As a result, there should be a recognition that air quality impacts and particle deposition from increased air traffic may have consequences on the ancient woodland at Great Wood and Dodd's Grove SSSI to the south-west and Hockley Woods SSSI to the north-west. Any air quality analysis undertaken to assess potential impacts should include detailed current baseline information (including specific aircraft types), combined with projected changes in air quality again based on movements of specific aircraft (such as Boeing 737s).

Q3.2 Do the objectives set out above cover the key requirements from the area?

Natural England are pleased to see an objective of 'ensuring a high quality environment for residents whether expressed through noise pollution management or protection of green space'. We would however like to see this statement strengthened and suggest the following wording: 'ensuring a high quality environment for residents through noise pollution management and/or protection and enhancement of green spaces.'

Q3.3 Are there any other additional objectives that might help to guide the selection of the preferred option/options and JAAP?

An explicit statement of the PPS9 requirement for the 'protection and enhancement of biodiversity and geological conservation' is missing from the list of objectives. Natural England believes that this needs to included in any set of objectives for a development of this scale and range of potential impacts.

Q4.8 What enhancements to the environment and amenity of the area should be made? What are the priority areas?

There are a range of opportunities for the enhancement of amenity areas as part of this JAAP and we would recommend that the Thames Gateway Green Grid Strategy is used to guide your exploration of these opportunities. Amenity spaces should be considered to include a range of sizes of spaces from large community playing fields, right through smaller spaces, such as the neighbourhood commons, or even access routes people use; the term green infrastructure is often used to encompass these opportunities. A good "green infrastructure" should be a network of multi-functional green space, both new and existing, both rural and urban, which supports the natural and ecological processes and is integral to the health and quality of life of sustainable communities.

Green infrastructure can be generally characterised as green spaces which:

. are linked together as coherent networks;
. are accessible;
. are multi-functional, offering informal recreation and non-motorised movement corridors;
. llink places where people live with the best areas of undeveloped natural and semi-natural places as well as formal open spaces;
. present important habitats, ecological networks and stepping stones for wildlife movement within and across settlements and rural hinterlands;
. allow natural processes to operate, such as watercourses, flood plains and ground water storage;
. reinforce landscape character;
. set attractive contexts for development;
. offer opportunities for physical activity, benefiting community health; and
. afford space for quiet contemplation and relaxation for growing communities.

The multi-functional benefits of green infrastructure and a healthy natural environment in general are likely to be widespread, long-term and help set a positive context for sustainable economic performance and societal well-being. Green infrastructure should to be viewed as a vital element of achieving more sustainable communities. Consideration of community need for green infrastructure should be integrated into growth proposals from the earliest stages of planning and design.



We hope that the above comments will be useful in framing the further development of the London Southend Airport JAAP. Natural England reserves the right to object to any subsequent planning application which does not adequately address the kinds of issues set out above.

Should you have any additional concerns relating to the content of this letter, please contact me at the above address.

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan Development Plan Document: Initial Consultation on Issues and Options

Thank you for consulting Natural England on the above proposal. Your letter was received by this office on 27 June 2008. The JAAP Consultation Paper and its accompanying Draft Sustainability Appraisal have been read with interest, and we would like to commend Rochford District Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council for the clear and logical way in which the initial consultation paper is set out. Natural England would like to offer the following comments in relation to specific questions from the list in Appendix A.

Q2.2 Are there any important assets or issues missing from the assessment?

There is a danger that the assessment does not fully recognise potential impacts of expanding the current operating parameters of the airport on a wider area than that delineated within the JAAP boundary. Natural England would like to see explicit recognition and assessment of potential noise and pollution impacts on designated sites lying under the approach and climbout routes. To the south-west this would include the Benfleet and Southend Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site, while to the north-east the route would take in parts of the Crouch and Roach Estuaries SSSI, SPA and Ramsar Site and the Essex Estuaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

In addition, although the prevailing wind in the UK is usually taken to be south-westerly, this area has a significant incidence of easterly and south-easterly airflows. As a result, there should be a recognition that air quality impacts and particle deposition from increased air traffic may have consequences on the ancient woodland at Great Wood and Dodd's Grove SSSI to the south-west and Hockley Woods SSSI to the north-west. Any air quality analysis undertaken to assess potential impacts should include detailed current baseline information (including specific aircraft types), combined with projected changes in air quality again based on movements of specific aircraft (such as Boeing 737s).

Q3.2 Do the objectives set out above cover the key requirements from the area?

Natural England are pleased to see an objective of 'ensuring a high quality environment for residents whether expressed through noise pollution management or protection of green space'. We would however like to see this statement strengthened and suggest the following wording: 'ensuring a high quality environment for residents through noise pollution management and/or protection and enhancement of green spaces.'

Q3.3 Are there any other additional objectives that might help to guide the selection of the preferred option/options and JAAP?

An explicit statement of the PPS9 requirement for the 'protection and enhancement of biodiversity and geological conservation' is missing from the list of objectives. Natural England believes that this needs to included in any set of objectives for a development of this scale and range of potential impacts.

Q4.8 What enhancements to the environment and amenity of the area should be made? What are the priority areas?

There are a range of opportunities for the enhancement of amenity areas as part of this JAAP and we would recommend that the Thames Gateway Green Grid Strategy is used to guide your exploration of these opportunities. Amenity spaces should be considered to include a range of sizes of spaces from large community playing fields, right through smaller spaces, such as the neighbourhood commons, or even access routes people use; the term green infrastructure is often used to encompass these opportunities. A good "green infrastructure" should be a network of multi-functional green space, both new and existing, both rural and urban, which supports the natural and ecological processes and is integral to the health and quality of life of sustainable communities.

Green infrastructure can be generally characterised as green spaces which:

. are linked together as coherent networks;
. are accessible;
. are multi-functional, offering informal recreation and non-motorised movement corridors;
. llink places where people live with the best areas of undeveloped natural and semi-natural places as well as formal open spaces;
. present important habitats, ecological networks and stepping stones for wildlife movement within and across settlements and rural hinterlands;
. allow natural processes to operate, such as watercourses, flood plains and ground water storage;
. reinforce landscape character;
. set attractive contexts for development;
. offer opportunities for physical activity, benefiting community health; and
. afford space for quiet contemplation and relaxation for growing communities.

The multi-functional benefits of green infrastructure and a healthy natural environment in general are likely to be widespread, long-term and help set a positive context for sustainable economic performance and societal well-being. Green infrastructure should to be viewed as a vital element of achieving more sustainable communities. Consideration of community need for green infrastructure should be integrated into growth proposals from the earliest stages of planning and design.



We hope that the above comments will be useful in framing the further development of the London Southend Airport JAAP. Natural England reserves the right to object to any subsequent planning application which does not adequately address the kinds of issues set out above.

Should you have any additional concerns relating to the content of this letter, please contact me at the above address.

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan Development Plan Document: Initial Consultation on Issues and Options

Thank you for consulting Natural England on the above proposal. Your letter was received by this office on 27 June 2008. The JAAP Consultation Paper and its accompanying Draft Sustainability Appraisal have been read with interest, and we would like to commend Rochford District Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council for the clear and logical way in which the initial consultation paper is set out. Natural England would like to offer the following comments in relation to specific questions from the list in Appendix A.

Q2.2 Are there any important assets or issues missing from the assessment?

There is a danger that the assessment does not fully recognise potential impacts of expanding the current operating parameters of the airport on a wider area than that delineated within the JAAP boundary. Natural England would like to see explicit recognition and assessment of potential noise and pollution impacts on designated sites lying under the approach and climbout routes. To the south-west this would include the Benfleet and Southend Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site, while to the north-east the route would take in parts of the Crouch and Roach Estuaries SSSI, SPA and Ramsar Site and the Essex Estuaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

In addition, although the prevailing wind in the UK is usually taken to be south-westerly, this area has a significant incidence of easterly and south-easterly airflows. As a result, there should be a recognition that air quality impacts and particle deposition from increased air traffic may have consequences on the ancient woodland at Great Wood and Dodd's Grove SSSI to the south-west and Hockley Woods SSSI to the north-west. Any air quality analysis undertaken to assess potential impacts should include detailed current baseline information (including specific aircraft types), combined with projected changes in air quality again based on movements of specific aircraft (such as Boeing 737s).

Q3.2 Do the objectives set out above cover the key requirements from the area?

Natural England are pleased to see an objective of 'ensuring a high quality environment for residents whether expressed through noise pollution management or protection of green space'. We would however like to see this statement strengthened and suggest the following wording: 'ensuring a high quality environment for residents through noise pollution management and/or protection and enhancement of green spaces.'

Q3.3 Are there any other additional objectives that might help to guide the selection of the preferred option/options and JAAP?

An explicit statement of the PPS9 requirement for the 'protection and enhancement of biodiversity and geological conservation' is missing from the list of objectives. Natural England believes that this needs to included in any set of objectives for a development of this scale and range of potential impacts.

Q4.8 What enhancements to the environment and amenity of the area should be made? What are the priority areas?

There are a range of opportunities for the enhancement of amenity areas as part of this JAAP and we would recommend that the Thames Gateway Green Grid Strategy is used to guide your exploration of these opportunities. Amenity spaces should be considered to include a range of sizes of spaces from large community playing fields, right through smaller spaces, such as the neighbourhood commons, or even access routes people use; the term green infrastructure is often used to encompass these opportunities. A good "green infrastructure" should be a network of multi-functional green space, both new and existing, both rural and urban, which supports the natural and ecological processes and is integral to the health and quality of life of sustainable communities.

Green infrastructure can be generally characterised as green spaces which:

. are linked together as coherent networks;
. are accessible;
. are multi-functional, offering informal recreation and non-motorised movement corridors;
. llink places where people live with the best areas of undeveloped natural and semi-natural places as well as formal open spaces;
. present important habitats, ecological networks and stepping stones for wildlife movement within and across settlements and rural hinterlands;
. allow natural processes to operate, such as watercourses, flood plains and ground water storage;
. reinforce landscape character;
. set attractive contexts for development;
. offer opportunities for physical activity, benefiting community health; and
. afford space for quiet contemplation and relaxation for growing communities.

The multi-functional benefits of green infrastructure and a healthy natural environment in general are likely to be widespread, long-term and help set a positive context for sustainable economic performance and societal well-being. Green infrastructure should to be viewed as a vital element of achieving more sustainable communities. Consideration of community need for green infrastructure should be integrated into growth proposals from the earliest stages of planning and design.



We hope that the above comments will be useful in framing the further development of the London Southend Airport JAAP. Natural England reserves the right to object to any subsequent planning application which does not adequately address the kinds of issues set out above.

Should you have any additional concerns relating to the content of this letter, please contact me at the above address.

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan Development Plan Document: Initial Consultation on Issues and Options

Thank you for consulting Natural England on the above proposal. Your letter was received by this office on 27 June 2008. The JAAP Consultation Paper and its accompanying Draft Sustainability Appraisal have been read with interest, and we would like to commend Rochford District Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council for the clear and logical way in which the initial consultation paper is set out. Natural England would like to offer the following comments in relation to specific questions from the list in Appendix A.

Q2.2 Are there any important assets or issues missing from the assessment?

There is a danger that the assessment does not fully recognise potential impacts of expanding the current operating parameters of the airport on a wider area than that delineated within the JAAP boundary. Natural England would like to see explicit recognition and assessment of potential noise and pollution impacts on designated sites lying under the approach and climbout routes. To the south-west this would include the Benfleet and Southend Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site, while to the north-east the route would take in parts of the Crouch and Roach Estuaries SSSI, SPA and Ramsar Site and the Essex Estuaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

In addition, although the prevailing wind in the UK is usually taken to be south-westerly, this area has a significant incidence of easterly and south-easterly airflows. As a result, there should be a recognition that air quality impacts and particle deposition from increased air traffic may have consequences on the ancient woodland at Great Wood and Dodd's Grove SSSI to the south-west and Hockley Woods SSSI to the north-west. Any air quality analysis undertaken to assess potential impacts should include detailed current baseline information (including specific aircraft types), combined with projected changes in air quality again based on movements of specific aircraft (such as Boeing 737s).

Q3.2 Do the objectives set out above cover the key requirements from the area?

Natural England are pleased to see an objective of 'ensuring a high quality environment for residents whether expressed through noise pollution management or protection of green space'. We would however like to see this statement strengthened and suggest the following wording: 'ensuring a high quality environment for residents through noise pollution management and/or protection and enhancement of green spaces.'

Q3.3 Are there any other additional objectives that might help to guide the selection of the preferred option/options and JAAP?

An explicit statement of the PPS9 requirement for the 'protection and enhancement of biodiversity and geological conservation' is missing from the list of objectives. Natural England believes that this needs to included in any set of objectives for a development of this scale and range of potential impacts.

Q4.8 What enhancements to the environment and amenity of the area should be made? What are the priority areas?

There are a range of opportunities for the enhancement of amenity areas as part of this JAAP and we would recommend that the Thames Gateway Green Grid Strategy is used to guide your exploration of these opportunities. Amenity spaces should be considered to include a range of sizes of spaces from large community playing fields, right through smaller spaces, such as the neighbourhood commons, or even access routes people use; the term green infrastructure is often used to encompass these opportunities. A good "green infrastructure" should be a network of multi-functional green space, both new and existing, both rural and urban, which supports the natural and ecological processes and is integral to the health and quality of life of sustainable communities.

Green infrastructure can be generally characterised as green spaces which:

. are linked together as coherent networks;
. are accessible;
. are multi-functional, offering informal recreation and non-motorised movement corridors;
. llink places where people live with the best areas of undeveloped natural and semi-natural places as well as formal open spaces;
. present important habitats, ecological networks and stepping stones for wildlife movement within and across settlements and rural hinterlands;
. allow natural processes to operate, such as watercourses, flood plains and ground water storage;
. reinforce landscape character;
. set attractive contexts for development;
. offer opportunities for physical activity, benefiting community health; and
. afford space for quiet contemplation and relaxation for growing communities.

The multi-functional benefits of green infrastructure and a healthy natural environment in general are likely to be widespread, long-term and help set a positive context for sustainable economic performance and societal well-being. Green infrastructure should to be viewed as a vital element of achieving more sustainable communities. Consideration of community need for green infrastructure should be integrated into growth proposals from the earliest stages of planning and design.



We hope that the above comments will be useful in framing the further development of the London Southend Airport JAAP. Natural England reserves the right to object to any subsequent planning application which does not adequately address the kinds of issues set out above.

Should you have any additional concerns relating to the content of this letter, please contact me at the above address.