The planning application, submitted to Southend Borough Council on 13th October 2009, principally seeks permission for:
- A south westerly extension of the runway
- Diversion of Eastwoodbury Lane, together with provision of a new cycleway and footpath around the extended runway
- Improvements to St Laurence Park following the road diversion, increasing the amount of public space and providing additional ecological habitat
The development DOES NOT involve the demolition of St Laurence and All Saints Church but alterations would be made to the pedestrian and vehicular access to the church, the removal and reinstatement of a section of the church wall and upgrading of the church car park and boundary landscaping.
The development will require the removal of six existing cottages.
Why is this being proposed?
In the 1960s, Southend Airport was the third busiest airport in the UK. Today, the airport plays an important role for aviation engineering but no longer fulfills the role of a passenger airport. The key limitation has always been the runway length which at present is unable to cater for new, modern and more fuel efficient aircraft. These aircraft require more runway length and due to the nature of the current runway, are unable to use the airport to serve international destinations.
Please select the following link to watch a short video about the development plans for Southend Airport..
By extending the runway by 300m these aircraft will be able to use the airport and serve a wide range of business and holiday destinations that local residents currently have to travel to other airports to access. The expanded airport will be used for over 400,000 business trips each year, putting Southend on the business map and providing opportunities to promote Southend and Rochford to a wider audience.
Key documents submitted to the council
Planning Statement
Unlocking Potential: Summary document outlining the key aspects of the planning application, this is a broad summary of the application and associated improvements.
Statement of Community Involvement Response: Outline of the public consultation around the proposed improvements undertaken during Summer 2009.
Transport Assessment
Health Assessment
Flood Risk Assessment
Environmental Statement
Environmental Statement Non Technical Summary
