What is Airport
Safeguarding?
SAFEGUARDING is the process by which development
in the vicinity of airports (and specified en-route technical sites
operated by NATS or the MoD) is controlled in order to ensure the
continuity of safe operations. It is primarily concerned with:
-
The maintenance of airspace sufficiently free
of obstacles to ensure the safety of airborne air craft, known
as physical safeguarding.
-
The control of developments, including wind
farms, which may interfere with aircraft/airport navigational
aids such as the Instrument Landing System (ILS), Distance Measuring
Equipment (DME) and radio navigational beacons, known as technical
safeguarding. (See Airport Overview Page for details of the navigation aids
in use at the Airport).
-
The control of developments likely to attract
birds, or introduce distractions that may compromise the safety
of aircraft.
Obstacles include not just buildings but
also other structures such as transmitter towers and tall cranes used
on construction sites which can present real problems.
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 The
Safeguarding Process
NEW arrangements for airport safeguarding came into
force on 10th February 2003. The details are to be found in
ODPM
Circular 1/2003 which includes (at
Annex 1) the text of the Town And Country Planning (Safeguarded
Aerodromes, Technical Sites And Military Explosives Storage Areas)
Direction 2002. (Acrobat .pdf copies of
the Circular are available for downloading - see
below)
In summary the safeguarding process is centred around
the safeguarding map issued to local planning authorties by the Civil
Aviation Authority. This shows colour-coded areas which together
represent the safeguarded area around the airport. At London City
Airport the safeguarded area incorporates the whole or part of 27
different planning authorities. The areas most likely to be affected
by the development of tall buildings are the City of London and the
London Boroughs of Southwark and Tower Hamlets. The Airport itself
is situated in the London Borough of Newham where the regeneration
of the Royal Docks has generated a lot of safeguarding work.
The safeguarding map can be seen at the offices of
the local planning authority or at the Airport – see below.
 Where
in a proposed development the height of a building or structure would
exceed the level indicated on the safeguarding map for that area the
local planning authority is required to consult the Airport. Consultation
is also required in any case within a 13 kilometre zone marked on
the map where the proposed development is for other aviation uses
or is likely to attract birds and to wind farm developments within
a 30 km radius.
Consultation applies not only to applications
for full or outline planning permission but also to applications for
the amendment of an outline planning permission, for the renewal of
a planning permission or for the removal or modification of conditions
imposed on a previous planning permission.
When consulted the Airport considers whether the
proposed development might compromise the safe operation of the aerodrome
or interfere with the navigational aids or Instrument Flight Procedures
(IFP) and offers its comments accordingly. If then the local
planning authority proposes to grant planning permission contrary
to an objection made by the Airport, or not to attach conditions which
they have recommended, it is required to notify the Civil Aviation
Authority. There is then a period
of 28 days during which the CAA considers the disputed application
and, if it thinks it necessary, to ask the Se cretary
of State to issue a direction under s.77 of the Town
and Country Planning Act 1990 calling in the application for determination
by the Secretary of State.
Important
Note: The Circular makes it clear that it is for the
local planning authority to trigger the safeguarding process. It is
very important that in doing so they should ensure the Airport
is sent appropriate information so that it can properly assess the
application. If this is not done the Airport is likely to have to
send a holding letter which may delay the completion of the planning
process.
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Public Safety Zones
THESE are areas of land at the ends of the runway
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.
In July 2002, following a nationwide review, the
PSZs at London City and other airports were redefined and the Government
issued specific Guidance (DfT Circular 1/2002 - see
below) for local planning authorities on the control
of development within them. The basic policy objective governing
the restriction on development is that there should be no increase
in the number of people living, working or congregating in PSZs and
that, over time, the number should be reduced as circumstances allow.
Click the thumbnails below to see maps showing the
new PSZs at London City. DfT Circular 1/2002 is available for
downloading in .pdf format - see below.
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Map of Western Public Safety Zone (Runway 10) - 175k |
Map of Eastern Public Safety Zone (Runway 28) - 146k |
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Bird Hazards
In May 2007 the Airport responded to a
consultation exercise about a proposed Joint Waste Development Plan for East London. The response focused on the bird hazard to aircraft using London City Airport. The response included a report prepared by specialist consultants (.pdf 220kb) which is reproduced here because it may be helpful to those engaged in the development process. 
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Talking to the Airport
IT makes obvious sense for developers to take account
of Airport safeguarding issues well before they finalise their schemes
and submit an application for planning permission. The Airport
is very happy to offer its help and advice and if necessary to draw
in the assistance of the National Air Traffic Services who look after
air traffic control and the navigational aids at the Airport.
The appropriate contact at the Airport is:
- Daniel Townsend on
020 7646 0180, fax:
020 7540 5766, E-Mail
He is based at London City Airport, City Aviation
House, Royal Docks, London, E16 2PB.
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Government Guidance for Downloading
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