Overview
The land on which the Proposed Development will be constructed is referred to as the Application Site. For the purposes of the PEIR, the Application Site has been further split into four distinct geographical components:
- the Main Application Site;
- Off-site Car Parks;
- Off-site Highways Interventions;
- Off-site Planting.
The Main Application Site, Off-site Car Parks, Off-site Highways Interventions boundaries and locations for Off-site Planting are shown in Figure 2.2.
Further details on the existing site and surroundings can be found within Chapter 2 of Volume 2 of the PEIR.
Further details on the existing site and surroundings can be found within Chapter 2 of Volume 2 of the PEIR.
Main Application Site
The Main Application Site is located approximately 45 kilometres (km) north west of London, to the east of Luton town centre and encompasses approximately 427 hectares (ha). The Main Application Site includes the existing airport, the existing business park to the north and north west of the airport, Wigmore Valley Park and arable land to the east.
The Main Application Site boundary extends across Luton Borough Council and North Hertfordshire District Council administrative boundaries, as can be seen in Figure 2.1. Immediately to the south of the existing airport is Central Bedfordshire. The administrative boundaries of North Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire also mark the boundary of the Green Belt.
The existing airport is located on a raised platform at the north-eastern end of the Chiltern Hills. The existing airport infrastructure consists of a single runway with associated taxiways, stands and aprons. It has a single commercial passenger terminal, with supporting hangars, maintenance facilities, and airport related offices. The airport and its associated business park also accommodate a range of aircraft and airport production and maintenance businesses. There are also a number of car parks for short-, mid- and long-term stay.
In 2019, the airport operated flights to approximately 90 destinations, with most passengers flying on commercial scheduled and charter services. In 2019, there were around 141,500 aircraft movements (approximately 460 in a typical busy day), of which around 113,100 were by commercial passenger or cargo operations. The majority of flights were to international destinations, while around 8% were domestic flights. Scheduled service operators include easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air. Business and private operators are serviced by facilities operated by Harrods and Signature Flight Support.
Local buses connect the existing airport with Luton town centre. Conventional bus and coach services also operate, connecting the airport with local towns and cities. A shuttle bus operates currently between the Luton Airport Parkway railway station and the existing passenger terminal. Luton Airport Parkway is serviced by both the East Midlands service as well as the extensive Thameslink service, connecting Luton Airport Parkway with London and other major towns and cities. Luton Airport Parkway railway station will be directly connected to the airport via the Luton DART system which is currently under construction. It is expected to be opened in 2022.
Wigmore Valley Park, located to the east of the existing airport, provides an area of public open space and recreational facilities. It comprises an area of former landfill which was operational between 1937 and 1978. The park is also designated as an Area of Local Landscape Value, an Asset of Community Value and parts of the park are designated as a County Wildlife Site (CWS).
The east of the Main Application Site largely comprises arable fields with hedgerow boundaries and scattered trees. Archaeological records suggest historical human activity in this area with a possible Roman building in the field to the east of Wigmore Valley Park.
The Main Application Site is bordered by Darley Road to the north and intersected by Winch Hill Lane, a rural road running through the area of Winch Hill in the east of the Main Application Site. There is a network of Public Rights of Way in this area including the Chiltern Way which follows approximately the alignment of Darley Road. There is a ridge with a band of woodland running approximately north-west to south-east through this area, and Winchhill Wood, a block of ancient woodland, in the south east.
There is one occupied residential property, Winch Hill House, within the Main Application Site boundary. Winch Hill Cottages, isolated barns, and some properties at Wandon End are immediately adjacent to, but outside of the Main Application Site boundary.
Land outside the Main Application Site boundary to the north and west is predominantly residential and mixed industrial, and rural with arable fields to the east and south. The River Lea flows to the south in a valley directly to the west of the existing airport. There are also a number of assets of heritage value in the surrounding area, including Someries Castle, a scheduled monument, approximately 250m south of the Main Application Site, and Luton Hoo Grade II* Listed Registered Park and Garden, approximately 300m south west at its closest point to the airport.
Off-site Car Parks
The two locations for the proposed Off-site Car Parks, as shown on Figure 2.2, are to the south west of the airport, adjacent to either side of the Midland Mainline railway and the Luton DART.
The larger of the two sites is located to the north of the Midland Mainline railway and is currently a trailer park for Heavy Good Vehicles. The smaller site, which is located to the south of the Midland Mainline, is a disused area of hardstanding which was previously used as a car park. The sites are located in a commercial area dominated by existing transport infrastructure; bordered by Parkway Road and the A1081 to the south, New Airport Way and the A1081 to the east, Kimpton Road and industrial units to the north. The Midland Mainline railway and the Luton DART pass between the two sites.
These sites are partially located within the airport’s Public Safety Zone, an area at the end of runways within which development is restricted in order to control the number of people on the ground at risk of death or injury in the event of an aircraft accident on take-off or landing. Development of long stay and employee car parking in this zone is permitted.
Off-site Highways Interventions
The Proposed Development would include several sites where highway improvements would be required to facilitate an increase in traffic flows forecast to occur with the increased airport capacity, including M1 Junction 10.
The proposed improvements to existing highway infrastructure are located in urban areas, and each location has been subject to previous development and disturbance. The proposed works would be small scale junction and road works, and would be restricted to existing highway boundaries as far as possible. No existing buildings are expected to be directly impacted as result of the proposed highway improvements.
Off-site Planting
As part of the Proposed Development, areas of off-site planting are proposed. These comprise improvements to existing agricultural field boundaries to the north, east and south of the Main Application Site.
Documents
PEIR Chapter 2 : Click Here
Figures
2.1 Proposed Development Boundary : Click Here
2.2 Development Areas : Click Here
2.3 Existing airport infrastructure : Click Here
2.4 Other Airport Related Development : Click Here