Representation by Mid Sussex District Council (Mid Sussex District Council)
- Date submitted
- 27 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Local authorities
1.0 SUMMARY Mid Sussex District Council is an adjoining authority to the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Project (NRP). The Council works collaboratively with the nine local authorities surrounding the airport, including the host authorities (Crawley Borough Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Mole Valley District Council, Tandridge District Council, Surrey County Council and West Sussex County Council) and the neighbouring authorities (Horsham District Council, East Sussex County Council and Kent County Council). Together, the ten local authorities are referred to in this Representation as the Joint Local Authorities (JLAs). 1.2 Mid Sussex District Council has undertaken an initial review of the application documents and has identified what it considers to be the main issues arising from the project and the application documents submitted by the applicant. 1.3 Mid Sussex District Council has a number of wide-ranging concerns with the application submitted by Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) to bring the existing standby (northern) runway into routine use for departures (the Northern Runway Project, abbreviated below to NRP). This relevant representation sets out the key headlines of our concerns. Further information and detail about these concerns will be set out in the Local Impact Report. 1.4 In summary, MSDC’s key concerns are set out below: a) The Council is not satisfied that a robust assessment of Aviation need, capacity and forecasting has been provided. b) The Council has wide-ranging concerns about the methodology used to assess the Noise and Vibration impacts arising from the NRP and the measures proposed to monitor and mitigate those impacts. c) The Council has wide-ranging concerns about the methodology used to assess the impacts of the NRP on Air Quality and the measures proposed to monitor and mitigate those impacts. d) The Council has identified a number of issues that should be addressed to provide a more robust assessment of Climate Change impacts and has concerns regarding how appropriate mitigation will be delivered, funded and secured. e) The Council has wide-ranging concerns about the methodology used to assess the Greenhouse Gases (GHG) arising from the NRP and the measures proposed to monitor and mitigate those GHG. f) The Council has wide-ranging concerns about the methodology used to assess the Traffic and Transport impacts of the NRP and the measures proposed to monitor and mitigate those impacts. g) The Council has wide-ranging concerns about the methodology used to assess the Socio–Economic impacts arising from the NRP and the measures proposed to monitor and mitigate those impacts. h) The Council is not satisfied that a robust assessment of the impact of the project on the Historic Environment and Landscapes within Mid Sussex (which include the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) has been undertaken. i) The Council has concerns with the drafting of several passages of the Draft Development Consent Order. j) The Council has a number of queries regarding the Planning Statement accompanying the application. The full comments and PADDS are set out in separate attachments.