Representation by Transport for the South East (Transport for the South East)
- Date submitted
- 20 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Other statutory consultees
Transport for the South East (TfSE) is a sub-national transport body (STB) that represents sixteen local transport authorities. These are Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Medway, Surrey, West Sussex, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Southampton, and the six Berkshire unitary authorities. TfSE are registering as an interested party in relation to the surface access elements of the application by Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) for an additional northern runway. The proposed expansion of Gatwick Airport will have significant impacts on the transport system in and around Gatwick Airport. These impacts must be addressed as part of the project. Many of the identified improvements in the surface access strategy are already planned and committed in National Highways and Network Rail’s investment programmes and should be supported these include: • M23 widening slip roads and adding a flyover for southbound traffic accessing the airport • M23 spur terminal roundabout re-sited to south of existing, grade separated to give separate access to existing south terminal, new terminal, and A23 • A23 realigned to east of existing south terminal, grade separated junctions to M23 spur and north terminal • Gatwick Station redevelopment New high-level concourse with lift and escalator access from all platforms • Brighton Main Line upgrades Various grade separated improvements including Windmill Bridge and Stoats Nest junctions, other, junction improvements and platform extensions to increase capacity and remove operating conflicts • An alternative solution to facilitate the improvements that a smart motorway scheme would have delivered at peak periods, junctions 8-10. • Lower Thames Crossing New Thames crossing east of London to increase road capacity. Consideration should still be given to address approaching traffic from the surrounding road network into the A23/M23 corridor. We still have concerns that provision of safe and suitable access has not been demonstrated. We support WSCC in their request for evidence to support the potential impact of the speed limit reduction proposed on London Road (A23) to 40mph. Changes to highway proposals were made following GAL’s Autumn 2021 consultation. However, the changes do not appear to have incorporated sufficient additional measures to make sustainable modes of travel more attractive to staff and passengers. It is not clear how they will contribute to the objectives of increasing the proportion of passengers using sustainable forms of transport from 48% in 2020 to 55% by 2030. GAL’s commitment to ensure a minimum 55% (Environmental Statement) or 60% (Surface Access Strategy Oct 2022) of passenger journeys are made by public transport is not ambitious enough. Prior to the Pandemic the airport achieved 47.8% public transport modal share in the 12 months to March 2020. Currently the majority of journeys to and from Gatwick are made by car. This is in part due to the limitations of public transport options despite being on the Brighton Mainline. It must be ensured that GAL honour their commitments including the provision of new bus services, Improved bus connections will enable longer distance inter-urban journeys. But there must also be a commitment to increase the attractiveness of alternate modes. An undertaking for ongoing liaison with all public transport operators would increase understanding of travel behaviour and how it could be changed in the future. The delivery of the scheme and plans for surface access must maintain a consideration of government targets for decarbonisation and how they will contribute to achieving net zero aspirations for 2050. TfSE welcomes the reduction of additional car parking provision at the airport following their Autumn 2021 consultation to 6,570 new spaces (potential further 1,100 may be added later). TfSE still question this level of increased parking with the forecast increase in passenger movements being accommodated through investment in more sustainable forms of travel. ES Appendix 9.9.2 Biodiversity Net Gain Statement (Doc Ref. 5.3) states that the project overall promises >20%. We would expect to see a continued commitment to biodiversity net gain as part of any new parking provision and considered as an integral part of any surface access plans for modal shift and meeting the future decarbonisation targets mentioned above. Additional freight movements, as a result of the Northern runway, should also be considered not just within the airport boundary but in the surrounding area. Driver welfare and parking facilities should be provided or made provision for in the vicinity of Gatwick to avoid any adverse effect on surrounding local roads. This is an officer response. The TfSE Partnership Board next meets on 30 October 2023 when it will consider this response. A further iteration of it may follow that meeting.