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Crossrail go-ahead puts City Airport's future in doubt
Evening Standard12.10.07
The future of London City Airport has been placed in doubt by the decision to build Crossrail, according to the Mayor's regeneration chief.
The airport, in Docklands, hopes to expand from almost three million passengers a year to eight million by 2030 by doubling the number of annual flights to 143,000.
But the London Development Agency is set to refuse to sell the airport a parcel of land it controls at Albert Island that has been earmarked for extra staff facilities. LDA chief executive Manny Lewis said work had begun on drawing up a vision of a new community in the Royal Docks if the airport shuts. "They can't expand without the LDA land," he said.
Crossrail, due to open in 2017, would cut travel times between Canary Wharf and Heathrow to 43 minutes and between the City and Heathrow to about 25 minutes.
Mr Lewis said: "It raises questions about City airport's long-term viability. We also have this issue about our own housing agenda - we don't want development in the Royal Docks stymied by the rapid growth of the airport, with the noise and environmental impacts."
A City Airport spokeswoman declined to comment.
Reader views (3)
Living by the airport - and being familiar with its operations I would say that the airport is now at the maximum capacity it was ever designed to operate on for the densely built area it is situated in. The LDA would be quite correct in not releasing land to LCA -for those whom are familiar with the area and the housing plans and building currently taking place, they will know that if the airport expands it will do so at the expense of housing being built (thousands of homes have been recommended not to be built by LCA if they expand due to the public safety zone). In reality the economy of Docklands or London City will not collapse if the airport is denied expansion - many flights are half empty as it is, and some routes have been dropped because of lack of patronage. City airport is in a residential area - it's operations have to be balanced with the community and the residents who live near to it. Those that live there are happy to accept what it is now - but the majority are not happy to accept expansion and an increase in noise and pollution. Some residents quite like being able to open their windows - but won't be able to if expansion goes ahead due to the noise and pollution.
- Annie, London
"Crossrail, due to open in 2017, would cut travel times between Canary Wharf and Heathrow to 43 minutes and between the City and Heathrow to about 25 minutes."
It currently takes barely 10 minutes from Canary Wharf to the City by DLR. I find it extraordinary that the Crossrail is designed to make this portion of the journey slower!
Some spin, perchance?
- Rob, Canary Wharf
Madness. We need the airport, Crossrail and more housing if East London is to flourish and grow.
Sorry, Mr Lewis, but your own agenda has to take account of all three. If it doesn't, then can I suggest that you need to change the agenda to reflect the needs of the area.
To suggest a vision of a new community "if the airport shuts" is very shortsighted. Look at the figures for passenger growth.
Would the City and Canary Wharf have been so keen to contribute to Crossrail if they had been told that the price might have included closing the airport?
Is this another example of planning by numbers? A desire to meet targets? How many of your staff and consultants live and work in East London? Connect with the people on the ground, please: that includes residents, business, local authorities and community organisations of all kinds.
- Ken W, East London
