Implications of the Aviation White Paper Progress Report for the South East

"The Future of Air Transport" White Paper in December 2003 set out Government's intentions for the management and development of airports nationwide for the next 30 years. Government reviewed progress in December 2006 in "The Future of Air Transport Progress Report".

Following the progress report, the Regional Assembly appointed consultants Steer Davies Gleave to review Government's approach to airport development and recommend whether the Regional Assembly should consider its policy position.

Implications of the Progress Report - 3.29 MB

The Implications of the Aviation White Paper for the South East

Earlier work in 2005 informed the Regional Assembly's discussion to oppose the development of further runways at Heathrow and Gatwick and question the sustainability of Government aviation policy in the South East

Proposals for Heathrow and Gatwick airports were assessed against key regional policies and Government policy. The report concludes that current evidence does not provide any reason why either the general recommendations of the Aviation White Paper (on levels of growth), or the recommendations on individual airports (Heathrow and Gatwick) should be supported.

The consultants believe the White Paper is at odds with many national policies, making it inherently unsustainable.

The Regional Assembly endorsed the consultants' five key recommendations to improve aviation's ability to contribute to national economic welfare, and sustainable development:

• Move away from the predict and provide approach
• Improve the aviation market so that it can set an economically efficient level of demand for aviation
• Take other necessary policy steps to mitigate aviation's impact on climate change and wider sustainability
• Increase the economic and social benefits from aviation by adopting a stronger emphasis on regional / sub-regional provision.

Final Aviation Report (May 2005) - 2.94 MB
Executive Summary (May 2005) - 394 KB
Appendicies - 1.29 MB

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