Publication

See Attachment

On behalf of Norwich Airport Ltd, please find attached representations to the Greater Norwich Development Partnership’s Regulation 19 Plan.

6.0 SUMMARY

6.1 These representations are made on behalf of Regional City Airports (Norwich Airport Limited) pursuant to Site 4, Norwich Airport. These respond to the proposed allocation Policy GNLP1061R: Land known as ‘Site 4’, Norwich Airport. Norwich Airport is supportive of the Local Plan’s commitment to the growth of Airport to support the wider Greater Norwich Area, but it is important to recognise that a mixture of aviation and non-aviation uses will better support growth.

6.2 The key responses to the proposed Policy are:

1. The need to extend the Site area

6.3 The proposed allocation should also include the land at Petans to make efficient use of brownfield land, as defined in national planning policy. The inclusion of Petans will also help maintain the aviation-uses onsite. The size of the entire Site (46.5ha) is in the endorsed Masterplan, which is a material consideration for NCC and BDC. Therefore, the emerging Policy should include the entire Site

2. To provide a mixture of aviation and non-aviation uses

6.4 The proposal should provide for a mix of aviation and non-aviation uses in line with the extant consent that was approved by NCC and BDC in 2020. The endorsed Masterplan also allocates 44% of Site 4 (46.5ha) for aviation uses, which is a material consideration. Therefore, the development of the Site should not be restricted to solely aviation uses.

6.5 Following the approval of the extant consent, a marketing campaign has commenced which has generated interest from numerous non-aviation occupiers. Development of this nature will be critical to enable the business park to emerge, which will ultimately be to the benefit of both aviation and non-aviation uses.

3. To broaden uses to include ancillary retail/support uses

6.6 The proposed allocation uses should be expanded to include ancillary retail/support given the Site’s direct access to the strategic highway network (Broadland Northway). The allocation of these uses will also improve the sustainability of the Site overall by providing services and facilities for all future employees.


4. To provide flexibility to respond to demand

6.7 There has been no uptake of aviation uses since the original planning permission was granted in 2013. National planning policy states that policies should be flexible enough to enable changes in economic circumstances. This has been highlighted during the Covid- 19 pandemic. Objective Evidence undertaken by York Aviation has demonstrated that the Airport can provide for its operational needs up to 2090 with only a 20% retention of Site
4. Dialogue between the Airport and NCC during the determination process of the extant consent agreed a 50/50 split of the employment floorspace between aviation and non- aviation uses. The allocation should include a review mechanism at five yearly intervals, which allows for a greater proportion of non-aviation floorspace to come forward, supported by Objective Evidence.

5. Commit to the preparation of a Surface Access Strategy prior to the occupation of Phase 2

6.8 The extant consent has a condition that specifies that a surface access strategy should be endorsed prior to the occupation of Phase 2. Norwich Airport considers this a reasonable request rather than the current policy wording of prior to development. The surveys to support the Surface Access Strategy have commenced but have been delayed due to Covid-19. Therefore, it would be unreasonable to prohibit any development prior to the Strategy being approved. In addition, the Surface Access Strategy relates to Airport operations and therefore non-aviation uses can be considered to be outside the remit.

6.9 Norwich Airport welcomes the proposed allocation for Site 4 but recommends a number of changes to make a better and more efficient use of land and support the Greater Norwich area’s economy.

6. Statement of Common Ground

6.10 In a meeting between Rigby Real Estate and the Greater Norwich Development Partnership, it was agreed that the policy wording (and the supporting text) should be amended to make provision for Site 4 to be allocated for a 50:50 split between aviation and non-aviation uses without subsequent need for further objective evidence. Both parties agreed to enter into a Statement of Common Ground on this point in advance of the Local Plan Examination.