§ Mr. Haselhurstasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has reached a decision on the new safeguarded area of land at Stansted airport; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe White Paper on airports policy, Cmnd. 9542, made it clear that, in view of the decision that a second runway should not be constructed, the area at Stansted airport proposed for safeguarding against incompatible development was too large; and that a smaller area should be identified which might be required for construction of a second terminal if this proved to be justified at some time in the future. We have now agreed the extent of the land which is to be safeguarded for this purpose. This amounts to 327 hectares, of which the BAA already owns 60 per cent., compared with the 1,000 hectares for which safeguarding had originally been sought. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment proposes to issue shortly a direction to Uttlesford district council and Essex county council safeguarding the area of land which has been identified. A map showing the new safeguarded area can be viewed at the airport.
I have written to the BAA asking it to dispose of any landholdings which do not fall within the new safeguarded area, giving priority to farmland.