§ Mr. Haselhurstasked the Secretary of State for Transport why he has approved a safeguarded area at Stansted of 810 acreas when at the public inquiry the British Airports Authority asked for 500 acres to 570 acres.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerAt the airports inquiries, two options for the location of a possible second terminal at Stansted were considered. In option A, recommended by the inspector, the terminal would be located to the northeast of the approved development site. The inspector noted that this option was expected to require 270 hectares (667 acres). In considering the area to be safeguarded, I took into account the need for the area to encompass the realignment of public roads, not taken into account at the time of the inquiry, so as to minimise the impact on the woods in the area, notably Eastend wood, about which the inspector expressed concern.
A substantial part of this wood, which the BAA owns, lay outside the original boundary, as did about half of Little Newlands wood. The revised boundary which I have approved encompasses these woods and an area beyond them for the public roads to be reprovided. In other places it has been possible to reduce slightly the extent of the original boundary. The net result is that the area which is to be safeguarded is 327 hectares (about 810 acres).