Thames airport feasibility studies

This news has been welcomed by the Thames Hub development team led by Foster + Partners, which is hoping that the feasibility studies will lead to the Inner Thames Estuary location on the Isle of Grain being added to the Commission’s shortlist in September 2014.

Foster + Partners point out that although in the main the feasibility study recognise the scale of the airport’s economic benefit, it does note that more detailed work needs to be done on several issues, including impacts on the Natura 2000 bird and habitat sites which are potentially under threat from the development.

The Commission said that even higher ratios of these areas could be required for this development than for past projects, but it is not yet clear as to why this should be the case.

Also, it recommended that more detailed studies be carried out on the socio-economic impact of an estuary airport and also the projected growth in demand on the road network.

The Thames Hub development team, which believes that the development is central to the UK retaining its global hub airport status, said it is ready to work with the Commission to address these issues.

But it points out that the big issues which were considered to be “killer blows” to the development such as flood risk, fog, wind and bird strikes were not seen to be insurmountable barriers by the study.

A final decision is due to be made on the development in September 2015.

By Anne-Marie Causer