Published on 9 August 2011
The revised Biggin Hill Airport Limited (BHAL) request to vary the lease during Olympic Games period was rejected last night.
The Executive decision not to grant the application followed a discussion about the nature of the application itself and the business case surrounding it. BHAL approached the Council in its capacity as landlord of the airport.
"We listened very carefully to the case put before us and we were simply not convinced. We just do not believe that the benefits being spoken about were strong enough when compared to the adverse impact of additional flights. We continue to want to see a viable airport which is commercially successful. The Council originally purchased the airport to ensure that its airport use continues and to protect residents' interests. There are already significant business opportunities for the airport as the Olympics approaches and BHAL can take advantage of these within the context of the existing lease" said Leader of Bromley Council, Councillor Stephen Carr.
BHAL approached the Council in its capacity as landlord of the airport. BHAL, as the tenant, needs the Council's permission to change operating hours which are set out in the lease and operating schedules.
Following discussion of the revised BHAL proposal at Executive in June, the Council began consulting local residents and groups. The revised proposal was circulated widely, with details being sent either by e-mail or post to all the groups and individuals on the Biggin Hill consultation register. Details of the application were also published on the Council's website and in the local media. A total number of 1741 responses were received with 690 (40%) responses supporting the BHAL proposal and with 1046 (60%) responses against it.
The revised BHAL proposal included:
Easing the current restrictions applied to the shoulder opening hours which permit morning departures and evening arrivals for based aircraft on weekdays to allow arrivals from 0630 in the mornings and departures until 2200 in the evening. The number of movements between 0630 and 0700 would be restricted to a maximum of 3. This would make the proposed weekday operating hours 06.30 to 22.00 hours, changed from the existing 07.30 to 21.00 hours (excluding the shoulder hours for planes normally based at the airport).
The proposed weekend and bank holiday operating hours would be from 08.00 to 21.00 hours on Saturdays and 08.00 to 22.00 hours on Sundays and bank holidays, changed from the existing 09.00 to 20.00 hours. This would mean an extra hour in the mornings on all days, and one extra hour on Saturday evenings, two on Sunday and the August bank holiday evenings.
BHAL's proposals would operate from Friday 13 July to 19 August and from 28 August to 12 September, which encompasses both the Olympics and Paralympics. The volume of flights proposed would be within the existing limit in the lease.
Biggin Hill Airport is let to Biggin Hill Airport Limited (BHAL) for 125 years by a lease dated 6 May 1994. The use permitted by the lease is restricted to specific aviation uses including, in particular, business aviation. While hired air taxis do fall within that use, flights for the use of fare paying passengers are not permitted. The hours of operation of the airport are also restricted by the lease.
Source: http://www.bromley.gov.uk
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