Representation by Elekta Limited (Elekta Limited)
- Date submitted
- 13 September 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Impact to local area including: Noise, Environment, Road Works, Employment Elekta Ltd agree with the comments raised within the Manor Royal Business District response dated 26 Novemeber 2021. Key points of note are as follows: We recognise the benefits of an expanded Gatwick Airport and is supportive of proposals for sustainable growth. Plans to bring the Northern Runway into routine use alongside the Main Runway, while not increasing the actual footprint of the airport, appear sensible and in keeping with Government policy. In supporting the principle of expanding the airport through the Northern Runway Project, our primary concern for Gatwick Airport to grow to serve circa 75.6mppa in 2038 and 80.2mppa in 2047 is whether the local infrastructure can cope with that level of use and that our area does not invite similar pressures, problems and criticisms experienced at Heathrow Airport. A bigger Gatwick is predicted to generate an uplift in demand for workers. This is an opportunity as well as a challenge in an area with practically zero unemployment where companies already struggle to recruit. This must be taken account of to avoid significantly increasing this pressure and causing companies to suffer from the impact of further wage inflation and other problems caused by not being able to fill positions and having to widen their area of search, which itself has the impact of creating an upward pressure on wages and to encourage further in-commuting. We are positive about an airport that offers improved connectivity. Ease of movement around the world for people and goods will remain important in a globally connected economy. Since 2000 we note the volumes of freight handled by Gatwick has reduced from 320,000 tonnes to 150,000 tonnes in 2019. Current forecasts would see a positive return by 2038 but only to levels similar to those in 2000. We would welcome more ambitious targets by Gatwick to carry more freight. The continued requirement to safeguard land for a full-length second runway to the north of Manor Royal has been a constraint on the growth of the town for many years. It is also a concern for those businesses in properties that fall within the boundary of the expanded airport. Should the Northern Runway Project receive consent, as we expect it will, we believe this provides an opportunity to review the necessity for safeguarding this land and would welcome a review of it, particularly in view of potential changing habits post-pandemic and if Heathrow’s plans for a third runway proceed.