The National Trust is playing a key role in a joint campaign to challenge expansion plans for Stansted Airport.
© National Trust
Impact on Hatfield Forest:
Hatfield Forest is under threat from the Government and BAA Limited's plans to expand both the capacity and physical size of neighbouring Stansted Airport. The forest is already affected by noise and pollution connected with the airport.
Since 1995 the number of passengers travelling through Stansted Airport has increased from five million to current levels of 24 million. If this seems worrying enough, it is even more shocking to realise that if expansion goes ahead there will be a predicted 68 million travelling through by the year 2030.
A forest that has thrived and survived for one thousand years may be beyond saving by then.
The National Trust has consistently opposed the expansion plans as we have a duty to protect the forest and its wildlife for the benefit of future generations.
We specifically oppose the development of Stansted Airport for the following reasons:
- Dramatic increases in noise from aircraft, badly affecting visitors’ enjoyment of the forest and the local community’s quality of life
- Increases in air pollution, threatening the fragile habitat and the huge variety of animals, insect and plantlife that currently flourish in this ancient woodland
- The contribution to climate change from air travel and the possibility that Hatfield Forest will not be able to adapt to such rapid change, suffering a catastrophic decline as a result
- The damaging impact of increased air travel on the UK’s tourism economy.
What’s happened?
The National Trust has opposed the incremental expansion of Stansted Airport for over 25 years, due to its predicted impact on the forest.
We have pressed BAA to undertake more detailed monitoring to assess current levels of light, noise and air pollution on the surrounding environment before they develop further expansion.
In its White Paper on the Future of Air Transport, published in December 2003, the Government signalled a substantial expansion in UK airport capacity. This included explicit support for the development of a second runway at Stansted Airport.
In November 2006, Uttlesford District Council rejected BAA’s application for maximum use of the existing runway (35 million passengers). Their refusal of BAA’s application cited the ‘Stern report’ on the economics of climate change. BAA lodged an appeal against Uttlesford’s decision and this was heard at a planning inquiry that closed in October 2007. The National Trust gave evidence to the inquiry alongside other organisations, community, environmental groups and individuals who also oppose the plans for expansion.
The consultation on the proposed road and rail link at Stansted Airport has also been carried out. These proposals include plans to widen the M11 between the M25 and Stansted turn-off. The original plan to build a rail link under the Forest has been dropped by BAA.
BAA submitted its application for a second runway to Uttlesford District Council in March 2008. It was then 'called in' by the Secretary of State in August, which means it will undergo a planning inquiry. We put in our objection to the planning application to Uttlesford District Council in September.
© NTPL / Paul Wakefield
What’s next?
The Secretary of State's decision to grant permission for extending use of the existing runway to 35million passengers per annum (G1) was granted in October 2008. A legal challenge to this decision has been made and the result of this challenge is awaited.
The planning inquiry into BAA's application for a second runway (G2) was expected to commence in April 2009, but has now been delayed by the Secretary of State by at least two months to allow for the Competition Commission report into BAA's ownership of airports to be published. The inquiry could last until October 2010.
The government and BAA have confirmed their intention to continue with plans for expansion at Stansted Airport at the same time as their expansion plans at Heathrow Airport, which the National Trust is also opposing.
What you can do?
Please support our efforts to protect the forest by:
- Writing to the Secretary of State for Transport to oppose the expansion
- Writing to your local newspaper
- Contributing to websites and online message boards
- Joining our online petition, showing support for the Forest and opposition to the development of Stansted Airport
- Gathering stories and letters illustrating the important role that Hatfield Forest plays in the community.
- Come along to Hatfield and talk to one of us about how to get involved.
Do you have a story that would help us do this? If so, email us.
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