THE Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, who is currently considering the Southend Airport expansion plan, has been strongly urged by the Government-backed Renaissance Southend not to delay his decision too long.
Theo Steel, chairman of Renaissance Southend, told the Secretary of State: “London Southend Airport is a very important and valuable asset to Southend, the South Essex sub region, and indeed the wider Thames Gateway.
“As the urban regeneration company for the town, the board of Renaissance Southend Ltd has identified the airport, along with the town centre, as a key economic driver for Southend and the local area.
“This application comes at a critical time and presents an outstanding opportunity to transform economic prospects for the town.
“There is no other current development on the horizon that is likely to generate and harness the level of economic benefit and prosperity that the development of the airport will bring.”
Mr Steel says that with an extended runway the airport will deliver the benefits envisaged of it in established national, regional and local policy. It will provide improved access to the Thames Gateway and East of England Region and new opportunities for international business connectivity, particularly with DP World at London Gateway. It will underpin significant new employment, economic development and revitalisation of Southend and the Thames Gateway Sub Region.
He explains that they were aware from their close involvement that the airport’s consultant team had worked closely with Southend, Rochford and Essex Councils to agree a comprehensive set of controls and commitments to tackle the concerns of the local community and to ensure the effects of the development are properly mitigated and its benefits secured.
“We support those controls and initiatives and we believe they strike the right balance between protecting local residents and ensuring the realisation of the opportunity now presented,” he wrote.
“The issues raised by this application have been properly and adequately addressed by the council in reaching their decision. Renaissance Southend does not believe the application raises any other matters of national concern, or policy, that warrants the need to incur further risk to planning investment as a result of the delays that would be incurred by a call-in and subsequent public inquiry.”