Government approves Southend

RNS Number : 8618I

Stobart Group Limited

19 March 2010

 



Stobart Group Limited

('Stobart' or 'the Group')

Government approves London Southend Airport development plans

Runway extension and new terminal to be completed in time for London 2012 Olympics

The Board of Stobart, one of the UK's leading providers of multimodal transport and logistics services, is pleased to confirm that the Government has today approved the runway extension that forms a key part of its major expansion plans for London Southend Airport. Work has already started on new railway station and control tower for the airport, which are due to open in summer 2010 and spring 2011 respectively.

Work on the runway extension will begin shortly, with completion scheduled to coincide with completion of a new passenger terminal in 2011, in plenty of time for the London 2012 Olympics.

Stobart's application for a 300-metre extension to the existing airport runway was overwhelmingly approved by Southend Council's Development Control Committee in January, but was subject to review by Government after an "Article 14" notice was served prior to the Council vote. This notice made the Council's decision subject to ministerial ratification and, after a thorough review, John Denham, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has now given final go-ahead for the development.

Completion of the runway extension, and the airport's congestion-free location outside the London air traffic control area, make it an ideal location to meet the demand for European business and leisure travel, which is best served by aircraft such as the Airbus 319, Boeing 737 and Embraer 195, with up to 160 seats.

The runway extension will also allow Southend Airport to play a major role in handling visitors to the 2012 Olympic Games in London, with trains from Southend Airport taking just 40 minutes to reach the main Olympics park at Stratford in East London.

Andrew Tinkler, Stobart's Chief Executive Officer said:

"This project has been subject to very intense scrutiny, and has the support of the adjoining district councils, a host of local and national bodies, and now the Minister. It has been thoroughly examined and the resounding opinion is that the London Southend Airport development is a positive thing for Essex. I am delighted that we can now make these plans a reality."

"The go-ahead for this project represents another core step in our multi-modal offering with air complementing our road, rail and sea businesses. The development of this strategic asset also gives us a southern logistics hub and platform for the Stobart Group.  The airport has fantastic potential being well positioned for passenger travel to London and the 2012 Olympics, via our new railway station.  This is reinforced by the fact that Southend is part of the Thames Gateway blueprint plan which together with the new DP World Gateway Port opening in 2010, will become one of the UK's fastest growing development regions."

Alastair Welch, Managing Director of Southend Airport, added:

 "We are incredibly pleased that the project can finally and fully get underway. It is not just about the convenience of a local airport serving popular destinations, it is about the regeneration that this will bring to the wider Southend-on-Sea area, with the potential to enable many thousands of additional jobs over the next ten years. Southend will also now be able to showcase what it does best in time for the 2012 Olympics."

NOTE TO EDITORS

London Southend Airport is ideally placed to become a major regional airport serving the Thames Gateway, London and the broader South-East of England region. A Government White Paper on airport development in 2003 directed future capacity growth to be focused on developing existing airports, such as Southend. 

Southend was once the UK's third busiest airport and the runway extension, together with related development of new passenger facilities and the railway station, will allow Stobart to realise its strategic aim of attracting two million passengers a year to the airport by the year 2020.

Further details of the airport development plans can be viewed at www.flysouthend2012.com

19 March 2010

ENQUIRIES

Stobart Group Andrew Tinkler, Chief Executive Officer Alastair Welch, Managing Director, London Southend Airport	Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]
College Hill Gareth David Mark Garraway	Tel: [phone]

 

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