Bristol Airport has applied to the Department for Transport (DfT) to be designated a ‘co-ordinated airport’, a status given to highly congested airports in the UK [1]. It would give Bristol Airport complete freedom to schedule night flights across the year, with the declared intention to increase summer night flights. The DfT has opened a consultation inviting comment until June 26th (extended from April 3rd).
The only airports with ‘co-ordinated status’ at present are the London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, London City and Luton), Manchester and Birmingham. Bristol Airport is currently ‘partially co-ordinated’ (for summer seasons only during 2300 – 0659 hours), limited to 3000 in the summer season and 1000 in the winter season within any one year.
Reasons to reject the application for ‘co-ordinated’ status: SBAEx has submitted a full response to the quasi-technical consultation. In sum we make the following points:
An invalid application
Bristol Airport should not be granted ‘coordinated airport status, allowing permission to operate flights all hours in all seasons, for the following reasons:
.1 The Airport application is based on the assumption that the current capacity level has been increased by its recent planning application to North Somerset [2]. In fact, the application was refused (10 February, ratified 18th March 2020). So current capacity remains at 10 mppa not 12 mppa as proposed [3]. The consultation is therefore based on a false assumption and is invalid.
.2 The consultation document recognises that ‘the Bristol Airport night restrictions are fixed in the planning condition. Therefore, there is no mechanism to change or remove the restrictions except by a new planning permission.’ [4] The airport is already partially coordinated in the summer months to maximise night-time flights so the only way to become fully coordinated is to remove the condition set under the planning consent of 2011.
.3 It is not possible to verify the Airport’s fleet projections. Only the airlines have the power to deliver quieter aircraft [5]. In fact quieter aircraft should be used to reduce existing levels of night noise and not as an excuse to increase night flights.
.4 It is likely that Bristol Airport will appeal the planning decision within the next 6 months which will result in a public inquiry, where these issues would be discussed in detail. Any decision in advance of an appeal is premature.
The adverse impact of increased night flights on local communities
Local communities are oppressed by current night flights and increased night flights within the summer months or any other period within the year will further harm the health and well-being of local communities. This impact is supported by the body of scientific evidence showing health problems stemming from sleep disturbance and deprivation [6].
The democratic decision taken by North Somerset Council to reject Bristol Airport’s planning application has been supported by local Members of Parliament and many, many parish councils and community groups on the grounds that the harmful impact on health, well-being and the environment cannot be justified by the claimed economic benefits. As the Leader of North Somerset Council, Cllr Don Davies, has definitively stated: ‘the detrimental effect of the expansion of the Airport on this area and the wider impact on the environment outweighs the narrower benefits to Airport expansion’.
The impact of the international events
Even before the Corvid-19 pandemic there were strong socio-economic grounds for challenging Bristol Airport’s claim of congestion. At present it still has around 15% potential for growth before reaching the existing cap of 10 million passengers per annum. The rapid growth in public awareness of the global climate emergency are likely to lead to a diminution of demand, together with the unpredictable consequences of Brexit. National and international protocols, agreements and legislation in the pipeline are also likely to discourage demand-led growth in aviation, particularly from tourist travel. 85% of Bristol Airport’s passenger traffic is leisure-based.
Now the Corvid-19 pandemic has created circumstances in which the Airport is highly unlikely to reach capacity levels in 2021 or even in the foreseeable future. As one small indicator, the Airport has just recognised that the newly-completed administration buildings are a white elephant and put these onto the (non-existent) market for letting. This possibly contravenes the bounds of permitted development under which the building was constructed.
Conclusion
On planning and wider socio-economic grounds there can be no case for granting Bristol Airport co-ordinated status.
Notes
Based on original research and comment by HB, with thanks.
(1) As concluded by the Mott MacDonald Report, ‘Demand and Capacity Assessment Report 2019’.
(2) 18/P/5118/OUT submitted to North Somerset Council. It’s also worth noting that the consultation for the Airport’s Noise Action Plan was held in 2018, before the Airport submitted its planning application to North Somerset Council in December 2018.
(3) under application 09/P/1020/OT2
(4) https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/about-us/environment/capacity-assessment
(5) Suggested in the airport application 18/P/5118/OUT and the MMR, which states ‘Aircraft operating at Bristol Airport are expected to get quieter in coming years with the introduction of new types such as the A320neo and B737Max’.
(6) See for example, comment from the World Health Organisation recognise noise as an ‘underestimated threat’ that has significant Public Health effects. http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/noise/data-and-statistics
As usual, BA, running roughshod over us put upon residents despite the decision going against their expansion plan.
Sound rebuttal of their application for co-ordinated status, well done, let’s it stops this nonsense-ploy of David Lees.
As for their trying to let the new administration building, has the council planning enforcement officer been informed so that she can issue a breach of planning regulations notice?
Oz – we’ve informed the Planning officer at North Somerset and he is looking into it. Will post further info on Facebook or I’ll drop you an email. John
A big no to more flights from Bristol, at night or anytime!
Annamaria – we’ll be campaigning for a complete ban on night flights. John
This application seems to be just a ploy to get the go ahead for the extension that a minority actually want.
No right minded person could possibly think that night flights are a desirable thing.
If we look at pollution levels since the Covid -19 restrictions are working, then I believe that levels would have fallen dramatically.
However, us residents are more concerned about the actual noise levels during the night. Surely there are enough gaps in the daytime
to fill first if really pushed ?
Richard – we’re planning a campaign to get ALL night flights banned. Further info in due course
John
We live just off the flight path and that is the only time we have any peace.
The roads are clogged and pollution is horrible. The whole area is being over run by by the airport.
Tim – we’re working on a campaign to get ALL night flights banned. More info in due course
John
Terrible timing, clearly have no consideration for a fair process. Have faith Norrh somerset will be resolute and carry out the will of the majority of local people. Ps: we would definately like to be able to sleep in summer…….
Yes Jo – North Somerset councillors need and deserve all the support we can give
John
This latest attempt by BRistol airport is another chance to try and get this through regardless of local and public concerns about the environment and the increase traffic on local roads. Bristol airport need to realise that they are a local airport and not an international airport.
Julie – We’ll not only continue to oppose this all the way but will be starting a campaign to get ALL night flights banned
John
Great piece of work – well done. Maybe you could add that Heathrow’s plan for a third runway was turned down by three High Court judges who ruled that the expansion was illegal as it did not take into account the Paris Climate Agreement. That agreement in 2016 under which the Gov pledged to reduce climate emissions was not factored in when ministers approved the third runway.
This ruling applies to any airport (including Bristol) seeking expansion.
Heathrow’s boss lied when it was found he excluded in his carbon emissions calculations for the airport hundreds of thousands of flights and millions of cars. Only the airport’s physical infrastructure was included.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE WAY BRISTOL AIRPORT HAS DONE THEIR CALCULATION AND IT’S A LIE.
HOW CAN THEY BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH SUCH A BLATANT UNTRUTH?
Any part of an expansion agreement MUST include the airport’s owners ( Ontario Teachers Pension Fund) funding any infrastructure totally . It cannot be right for the British taxpayer to fund a business that has assets in the order of £190 million in it’s pocket.
The claim that aircraft noise an carbon emisions will both deminish in years to come may (or may not) come to pass. In which case surely it would be the wise decision to wait until this becomes a fact rather than just a pious hope?
Many thanks for these comments Robin. It’s a complicated issue and we’re currently working on the figures but there are many assumptions so framing the argument is something of a specialist job as we try to put together a definitive response.
John
One of the unexpected but very welcome bonuses of the lockdown has been the silence and clear skies at night! The night flights previously allowed to the airport were seriously disruptive of sleep as well as adding pollution. Following the lifting of restrictions rhere should be no need for Bristol Airport to expand or increase the number of flights, by day or night. I sincerely hope this application for full coordinated status is firmly refused
Hello Mary – we’re going to run a campaign to try to get
all
nightflights banned
John
What a grubby, incompetent, dishonest, scheming and completely out-of touch bunch of so-called managers we have at Bristol Airport! The eyesore on the outer roundabout is a monument to their greed and haphazard organisation and, as is beginning to emerge, may have been built without planning permission. Of course it’s too much to expect that enough people feel as strongly as our community and boycott the airport, but I would like to think – unrealistically – that the adverse publicity might have an effect on their future passenger numbers.
Still waiting for a reply from the Planning Officer to our query about the legitimacy of letting the ‘Eyesore’. Here’s hoping that things change Maureen…
John
The impact of Covid-19 means that all assumptions of future demand basd on past demand are totallly unreliable. Increased air travel is not only damaging to the environment through aircraft fuel and noise pollution but it is also a means of rapid transmission of viruses and other disease around the world. All such ‘growth’ proposals for airports should be put on hold until these problems are resolved. ‘Business as usual’ is not now an option.
In the case of Bristol, there are poor public transport links to the airport adding to traffic congestion on country roads and agricultural land needed for food production being converted into massive car-parking lots.
Absolutely. It will be fascinating to see how, when and if values and practices change as a result of Covid-19 and its extraordinary social and economic consequences
John
How wonderful, no planes, no noise and no smell of kerosene from the sky as a result of the coronovirus. As I write this the silence from the air and local roads is very strange. Another bonus is no cars using our narrow roads as free airport car parking. Does anyone know why airport is so expensive? I suspect that BA will keep appealing until they get their way with no care for feelings of local people. Good luck with your campaign.
Couldn’t agree moe Peter
Thanks, John
Thank you… Do we need to be feeding into the consultation as individuals? Árainn
Some people have submitted I believe but mostly groups. It’s been a very low-key consultation. Whatever then outdone we want to start a campaign to get all night flights banned as has happened elsewhere in Europe. I’ll send further info when we start planning this
John
Can do Arainn. This is a public consultation. Deadline now extended to June 26 (as we proposed to them in mid-March). Will publish more info shortly
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As a resident 15 miles from the Bristol Airport and on the flight path I disagree with the proposed expansion particually ‘night flights’ This is a predominately rural are as was the country side around Heathrow some years ago. .. The disruption to peoples lives will be immense.With the lack of infrastructure, and UNTIL QUIETER
ENGINES AND LESS POLUTION ARE PLANNED the knock on effect it will produce to residence , left to be mopped up by other agencies,health service etc.PAID BY US ….is thoughtless beyond. ……..