Greenbelt campaigners vow to campaign against Leeds Bradford Airport link road plans

Campaigners say large swathes of unspoilt greenbelt land will be seriously damaged and traffic congestion exacerbated if a proposed link road for Leeds Bradford Airport is built. They say a link route running from the A65 in Rawdon – through unspoilt green belt land – will not serve any beneficial purpose, arguing the case for building it has not been made. They are asking people to visit and sign up to saveleedsgreenbelt.com, a new website set up to protect green space around the city. Leeds City Council is working with Leeds Bradford Airport and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take the link road proposal forward. The council says no final route has been chosen and that the issue will go out for full consultation. But campaigners are gearing up to fight the proposal. Opponents are not persuaded that the traffic implications have been worked out properly. They want the council to produce evidence to back up its claims. One of the council’s stated ambitions is to increase the use of public transport (by building another road?) and hope to eventually get a rail connection.
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Greenbelt campaigners vow to campaign against Leeds Bradford Airport link road plans

Greenbelt protestors are speaking out against a proposed link road to Leeds Bradford Airport

By Annette McIntyre (Ilkley Gazette)

30 July 2015

HUGE swathes of unspoilt greenbelt land will be seriously damaged and traffic congestion exacerbated if a proposed link road for Leeds Bradford Airport is built, according to campaigners.

Protestors say a link route running from the A65 in Rawdon will not serve any beneficial purpose, arguing the case for building it has not been made.

Now they are urging people to visit and sign up to saveleedsgrenbelt.com, a new website set up to protect green space around the city.

Leeds City Council is working with LBA and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to take the link road proposal forward.

The council has stressed no final route has been chosen and that the issue will go out for full consultation.

But campaigners are gearing up to fight the proposal.

Rawdon Greenbelt Action Group spokesman, Briony Sloan, said: “We cannot see any benefit of having a supposed ‘link road’ running from the notoriously congested A65 – opposite Rawdon Crematorium – through unspoilt greenbelt, up to the airport.

“It is of our opinion, and that of local people who have spoken to us about this, it wouldn’t serve any beneficial purpose. It would make more sense to spend the money more wisely elsewhere – improving the existing roads already leading to the airport would be a very good start.”

She added: “We’ve heard some people think it would reduce the volume of traffic through Aireborough, but how? Where is the evidence? And even if that were the case, it would probably re-direct traffic right to the most congested spot of the entire A65, that between the crematorium and Horsforth roundabout.”

Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum chairman, Jennifer Kirkby, said: “A case to support the building of this road through a large part of this greenbelt has not been made. I cannot see how the area would benefit from having this road, nor how traffic through Aireborough would be relieved.

“Can the council provide the evidence to support its purpose? This greenbelt ensures Rawdon and Horsforth both retain their own special character and individuality. Swathes of greenbelt – giving Aireborough its defining special landscape character – are under serious threat.”

She added: “A train line would seem like the most appropriate way to deal with increased traffic to the airport, if it is to expand, and if the HS2 is going ahead.”

A Leeds City Council spokesman said: “The proposed link road has been agreed as part of the West Yorkshire Transport Fund, as it’s needed to improve access alongside other improvements to shift people to public transport.

“All options are being looked at for the route, including upgrading the A65 and B6152. We want to bring about the maximum benefits for the airport and local communities in an ambitious but sustainable way. We’ll consult formally at an appropriate time and look forward to hearing a range of views.”

A report to the council’s executive committee this month described the airport as a huge asset, which supported more than 2,600 jobs and contributed in excess of £100 million to the city region economy.

As well as the proposed link road, the council and the airport are hoping to increase the use of public transport and and to pursue a longer-term ambition for a rail connection.

lWhat do you think? We welcome letters on this or any other subject. E-mail richard.parker@nqyne.co.uk or write to the Content Editor, Gazette and Observer, 38 High Street, Skipton BD23 1JU. Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number.

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Earlier:

Leeds Bradford airport expansion plans need 36.2 hectares of green belt land owned by Leeds Council

July 9, 2015

Expansion plans have been unveiled for Leeds Bradford Airport to enable it to bring in double the amount of passengers over the next 15 years. The proposals would see Leeds Council releasing 36.2 hectares of greenbelt land in and near to the airport. It would be used to increase the passenger terminal building and develop an airport village, including a hotel, restaurant and shops. The plans would also result in new flight destinations being introduced. Leeds Bradford airport currently handles around 3.3 million passengers per year but its forecasts show a potential to increase that to 7.1 million by 2030. The plans include an air innovation park to attract research and development companies and an air freight park for improved cargo handling. Leeds Council said releasing the council-owned land would help businesses grow and bring in new jobs and skills. Better transport connections including a new link road are also being looked at. The proposals will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s executive board on 15 July, and if approved, they will go out to public consultation later in the year. The airport was bought from local councils in 2007 for £145.5 million. Although Bridgepoint Capital own the airport 100% financially, the councils hold a “special share” in the airport, to protect its name and continued operation as an air transport gateway for the Yorkshire region.

Click here to view full story…

Leeds Bradford still hopeful of airport rail link after Minister Robert Goodwill visits

May 2, 2014

New aviation Minister, Robert Goodwill. has visited Leeds Bradford airport and commented that a new rail link to the airport is “obviously desirable”. Mr Goodwill was at the airport for a whistle-stop tour, as part of a day of discussions with council and business leaders. One of the items to discuss was the possible improvement of road and rail links to the airport. This has been under discussion for several years. The local paper reports that “The Minister is visiting regional airports across the country in the wake of a new Government study, which has identified the six national congestion hotspots most in need of investment.” He said he could understand why the airport is so keen to get improved rail links, to ease travel. But quizzed on if and when the Government would be ready to invest in the region’s airport, he said he was “rather reluctant to put a timescale on that decision”. “We have to look at other airports and priorities as well….. There is a study ongoing and it will depend on the price tag, the deliverability and planning issues.” At present most people go to Leeds Bradford Airport by car or by taxi.

Click here to view full story…

 

 

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Scottish Government to consult on impact of halving, and then removing, APD

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GIP to put London City airport up for sale this year – might raise £2 billion?

London City airport is to be put up for sale by GIP by the end of the year, who want to capitalise on the rising global demand for air travel.  GIP owns 75%, with Oaktree Capital owning the remainder, but both have agreed to the sale. GIP also has the main stake in Gatwick airport, and Edinburgh but say they are not selling these now.  It is thought the airport might fetch as much as £2bn, which the FT says would be a multiple of over 60 times the company’s EBITDA in 2014. GIP bought the airport for about £750m in 2006 from Dermot Desmond; he had paid £23.5m for it in 1995 from Mowlem. The airport is trying to get planning consent for work to increase the annual number of passengers to 6 million per year by 2023, (4.1 million in 2014) but this has been blocked by Boris, due to noise. London City is appealing against this and may hear the outcome next year. City airport has already been granted permission to increase ATMs from 70,000 to 120,000 per year. It is widely believed that GIP would sell Gatwick soon, after the government makes a decision on if/where there might be a new runway. Last month, GIP said it would be prepared to give a legally binding promise that it will not sell out for a quick profit if the government decides to opt for a runway at Gatwick. 

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London City Airport could fetch £2bn after being ‘put up for sale’

Global Infrastructure Partners wants to sell the airport in the next few months, according to reports

5.8.2015 (Telegraph)

By Andy Trotman

London City Airport could fetch £2bn after being put up for sale by US investment firm Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), according to reports.

The owners of the international airport, located in the Royal Docks in Newham, are currently hiring advisers with a view to selling the site within the next few months.

“The market demand for quality airports is very high,” Michael McGhee, director for transport at GIP, told the Financial Times.

GIP owns the majority of London City Airport, holding a 75pc stake, but Oaktree Capital, which owns the other 25pc, has agreed to the sale, the FT claimed.

GIP also owns 42pc of Gatwick Airport and Edinburgh Airport but is not believed to looking to sell those assets.

The firm did not return calls for comment.

GIP bought London City Airport in 2006 for around £750m from Irish businessman Dermot Desmond.

The airport, which was developed by engineering company Mowlem in 1986, boasts a single 1,500 metre runway and due to its proximity to the City, mainly serves business travellers. It handles planes that fly to European destinations such as Amsterdam, Dublin, Madrid and Florence.

It welcomed a record 3.6m passengers last year, up 8pc on 2013.

However, expansion could be difficult. London Mayor Boris Johnson cited noise concerns when he blocked planning permission to increase the size of the site to accomodate 6m passengers. The airport is awaiting the result of an appeal against that decision.
It is the 15th busiest airport in the UK.

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Also

London’s City airport up for sale

by Tanya Powley, Transport Correspondent (Financial Times)

5.8.2015

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A £2bn price tag would represent a multiple of just over 60 times the company’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation in 2014 — although people familiar with the business noted that the airport’s adjusted earnings that year were significantly higher.

GIP bought the airport for an estimated £750m in 2006 from Dermot Desmond, the Irish financier, who paid just £23.5m for London City in 1995 from Mowlem, the UK construction group.

However, the airport’s value could be limited by its battle to get planning permission for a £200m development that would increase the number of passengers the airport handles to 6m by 2023. It won planning permission from Newham council in February, which was then blocked by Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, the following month over noise concerns. London City is appealing against the mayor’s decision and expects to hear the outcome next year.

Permission would enable it to extend the terminal as well as construct a new taxiway, aircraft stands and arrivals building. It would also help open up the airport to new destinations, such as the Gulf, the Middle East, Russia, north Africa and the US east coast. The airport has already been granted permission to increase the number of flight movements from 70,000 to 120,000 a year.

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Last month, GIP said it would be prepared to give a legally binding promise that it will not sell out for a quick profit if the government decides to opt for expansion at Gatwick over Heathrow, which was recommended by the Airport Commission in July.

Full FT article at 

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Earlier:

London City Airport challenges Boris’ decision to block its expansion plans, over ‘noise ghetto’ fears

 May 20, 2015

Boris Johnson blocked London City Airport’s expansion plans in late March, as he said it would create a “noise ghetto” for people living under the flight path. Now, as expected, London City Airport has appealed to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark, against the decision. On March 26th Boris ordered Newham council to reject the plans on the grounds of noise disturbance and because the airport was intended for business rather than leisure. Under the plans, take-offs and landings were expected to increase from 70,000 a year to 111,000,with passenger numbers doubling to 6 million by 2023. It would also be able to accommodate larger planes, (and be more profitable). This coupled with the airport’s plans to use new PBN technology to create a much narrower and concentrated flight corridor over Wanstead, Leytonstone and Leyton had prompted fears that noise could become an issue. The airport says it is appealing because of the jobs it creates, and its economic impact. The decision by Greg Clark could take 5 months.

Click here to view full story…

Boris turns down London City Airport expansion plans on noise grounds

March 27, 2015

Boris Johnstone, the Mayor of London, has refused London City Airport’s plan to expand on noise grounds. In a letter he has instructed Newham Council, who had approved the application, to refuse it. The Mayor says the application does not “adequately mitigate and manage its adverse noise impacts.” Newham’s decision was always dependent on the Mayor’s approval. London City Airport wanted permission to build new taxiways to permit larger planes to use the airport. It also wanted more car parking spaces. The decision will be a bitter blow to the airport as it will now no longer be able to bring in the larger planes it wanted to serve new destinations. John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, which campaigned against the expansion plans, said “The airport is paying the price for being so cavalier about noise. Quite simply, Boris did not believe its claims that it was dealing adequately with noise. We salute his decision”. The decision appears to be final, and it is unclear whether London City Airport can appeal to the Secretary of State. They may do so.

Click here to view full story…

London City Airport expansion plan gets go-ahead but campaigners say it will create ‘noise ghettos and misery’

February 4, 2015

Newham Council has granted planning approval London City Airport’s plans for an extended terminal, a new taxi-way and additional parking stands for larger aircraft. A new six-storey four-star hotel with up to 260 bedrooms will also be built on site. The expansion will increase the number of take-offs and landings at the airport from 70,000 a year to 111,000 and will almost double the number of passengers to 6 million a year by 2023. The number of aircraft stands will increase from 18 to 25, and the newer, larger planes they will accommodate will expand the airport’s reach from destinations in western Europe to Russia and North Africa. It has been described as a boost for London’s aviation capacity, while the arguments for and against a new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick (or neither) continue. There are claims for a large number of jobs, and Newham believes many will be for their residents – and there are claims of huge economic benefit for the local and UK economy. The expansion involves the tripling of the size of the terminal to 51,800 ft square and will see the number of flights increase from 38 to 45 during peak morning and evening rush hour times. Building work, subject to final planning approval being given by Boris, is expected to start by the end of 2015, with the first new aircraft seen on the runway in 2016.

Click here to view full story…

and more news   London City Airport News

 

 

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Permission refused for Gatwick Obviously NOT’s Judicial Review. They appeal.

Gatwick Obviously NOT, the flight path group set up last year in response to the newly concentrated arrival flight paths to Gatwick, has been refused permission to proceed with their JR against the CAA. Though disappointed, the GON’s Strategic Team of 15 spent much of the weekend conferring on the best way forward.  They had to review and understand the reasons for the Order to Refuse and take the advice of their QC, John Steel. Having done so, the very strong consensus was to go to Appeal, and Counsel has been instructed. It is expected that this will we have now given those instructions to our Counsel. We expect that this will happen in the autumn.  It is, however, a daunting task to take on the CAA, the Secretary of State for Transport, Gatwick airport and NATS. The decision to go for Appeal was taken with great care – and fundraising is under way to raise the necessary funds. GON say the judge, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, while refusing the Permission, added a postscript, seeming to suggest that there may be an issue about the need for consultation for ‘seismic’ events (such as the flight path changes introduced without notice) that is more a matter for the law-makers, not the lawyers. GON are staging a huge outdoor photo stunt on 16th August. Details below.
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The Judicial Review – Permission has been Refused

4.8.2015 (Gatwick Obviously NOT – GON)

Gatwick Obviously NOT heard late last Friday that they had been refused Permission to proceed with their JR against the CAA.

Naturally we were disappointed and GON’s Strategic Team of 15 spent much of the weekend conferring on the best way forward. They had to review and understand the reasons for the Order to Refuse and take the advice of their QC, John Steel.

Having done so, the very strong consensus was to go to Appeal, and GON have now given those instructions to their Counsel. They expect that to happen in the Autumn.

It is not without some thought that one takes on the CAA, Secretary of State for Transport, Gatwick and NATS and the same care was given to our decision to go to Appeal.

GON are grateful for all the support they have received, both financial and moral since they launched the JR process back in February.  GON’s chair, Martin Baraud, managed to write to over 30 of their major donors individually over the past few days, informing them of the situation.  He said the responses received  have been wonderful, generous and kind.

Intriguingly, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, while refusing the Permission, added this postscript, seeming to suggest that there is indeed perhaps an issue about Consultation for ‘seismic’ events (such as people in west Kent have all suffered in their skies, and core to the GON JR) – simply, in his opinion, one for the lawmakers, not the lawyers:

Postscript

25. As was acknowledged by Counsel for the CAA, Mr Nardell QC, at the oral hearing, the Secretary of State has a general power to give directions as he thinks necessary or expedient in relation to matters concerned with environmental impact (see s.39 of the Transport Act 2000). This could include further directions to licence holders to consult in certain circumstances. Whether there is a case for doing so in relation to what some might be regard as ‘seismic’ changes in vectoring practices is, however, a matter for the Secretary of State, not the Courts.

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For the JR, the “Ground of Claim” is that there has indeed been a change in the use of airspace and that the CAA should first have consulted on such change before it was put into effect by GAL and NATS. To date no consultation has taken place and this whole procedure has been bypassed. GON wants proper consultation, and that a full airspace change process is carried out.

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Video clip of the noise

Short video by Gatwick Obviously NOT illustrating the aircraft noise problem they have, with a concentrated flight path overhead.   YouTube

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Earlier:

“Gatwick Obviously NOT” serves Judicial Review upon the CAA, on airspace change, with Gatwick Airport as an “Interested Party”

March 10, 2015

The relatively new campaign, “Gatwick Obviously NOT”, (GON) which was set up in response to changes to flight paths to the east of Gatwick airport during summer 2014, has served a Judicial Review upon the CAA, with Gatwick Airport Limited and the Secretary of State for Transport listed under the CAA as an ‘Interested Party’. The claim is being brought by Martin Baraud, the Chair of GON. The “Ground of Claim” is that there has indeed been a change in the use of airspace and that the CAA should first have consulted on such change before it was put into effect by GAL and NATS. To date no consultation has taken place and this whole procedure has been bypassed. GON wants proper consultation, and that a full airspace change process is carried out. They also want there to be no airspace changes by the CAA without approval by the Secretary of State. GON has already succeeded in raising over £100,000 and they will be fundraising further, for more legal costs.

Click here to view full story…

Flight Path Protest Meeting

At Penshurst –  Rogues Hill, Penshurst, Kent TN11 8BN
Sunday 16th August at 5pm

(lasting about 90 minutes).

Crowd needed!  Please come if you can!

For details, please contact GON on ask@gatwickobviouslynot.org   Anyone who can help distribute flyers about the day is asked to get in touch.

Everyone is invited to join GON as they reveal a giant message for the planes over 100 ft long, laid out in a field in the heart of the village.  There will be full media attendance.

Bring as many dogs and children as you like. Great pub very close.  Free parking in the village

Martin (a professional photographer)  will be directing and photographing it from a small crane, helping the press get their pictures. A high-end professional drone team have also been secured to record moving footage for PR and media purposes.

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Independence of Airports Commission questioned over Howard Davies’ role in Prudential, which recently bought more Heathrow property

Campaigners against a 3rd Heathrow runway have questioned the independence of the Airports Commission and its chairman, Howard Davies. It has been revealed that he is a board member of Prudential, an insurance group which invested in property near Heathrow, just months before the Commission recommended a 3rd runway. He chairs its risk committee, which reviews and approves group investment policies as well as advising the board on risks in the company’s “strategic transactions and business plans”.. The Guardian reports that Prudential embarked on a £300m spending spree on properties around Heathrow, just as the commission prepared to deliver its final report, on 1st July. Prudential has an asset management business, M&G. In 2013 it bought the Hilton hotel at Terminal 5 for £21m and an earlier investment with planning permission for a large hotel close to where the proposed 3rd runway would be built. In May and June 2015 M&G bought more property including cargo depots and a business park a short distance from Terminal 4. Howard Davies also, till September 2012, advised the GIC (Singapore), which owns 11.2% of Heathrow. The Teddington Action Group say Davies’ links with Prudential undermines the impartiality and credibility of the Commission’s recommendations.
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Independence of Airports Commission questioned over chair’s Prudential role

Howard Davies sat on board of insurer, which spent £300m on properties around Heathrow as commission prepared to deliver report

By Harry Davies (Guardian)

5.8.2015

Campaigners against the expansion of Heathrow have questioned the independence of the Airports Commission after it emerged that its chairman is a board member of an insurance group which invested in property nearby months before the commission recommended construction of a third runway.

While chairing the commission, Sir Howard Davies sat on the board of Prudential, which embarked on a £300m spending spree on properties around the airport in west London just as the commission prepared to deliver its long-awaited report in July.

The commission’s final report, which concluded expansion at Heathrow is the “clear and unanimous” choice and urged the government to act quickly, has reignited a fierce battle between rival airports, environmentalists and senior politicians.

FTSE-listed Prudential has a multimillion-pound portfolio of Heathrow investments through its M&G asset management business, which includes its 2013 purchase of the Hilton hotel at Terminal 5 for £21m and an earlier investment with planning permission for a large hotel close to where the proposed third runway would be built.

In the two months before the Davies commission delivered its final report, Prudential’s property business made further investments in £300m of commercial property around the airport, including cargo depots and a business park a short distance from Terminal 4.

Sir Howard Davies says Prudential’s risk committee ‘has no involvement in investment decisions made by M&G funds on behalf of clients’ and denies seeing ‘any details’ of holdings by the funds.

Davies chairs Prudential’s risk committee which reviews and approves group investment policies as well as advising the board on risks in the company’s “strategic transactions and business plans”.

Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative MP for Richmond Park and London mayor contender, said Davies should never have been made chairman of the commission. “News that [Davies] has also been earning hundreds of thousands of pounds from a company that has been investing heavily in Heathrow property surely puts an even greater question mark over the validity of the commission’s work,” said Goldsmith.

Teddington Action Group http://ift.tt/1JxZoXf has raised concerns about Davies and potential conflicts of interest.  The spokeswoman for the local residents’ campaign group claimed the links between him and Prudential undermined the impartiality and credibility of the commission’s recommendations.

“It is outrageous that somebody who is meant to be independently advising on whether there is a need for increased airport capacity has ties with a company involved in Heathrow,” she said.

A spokesman for the commission defended the review, saying: “The Airports Commission is content that its process has been robust and that it has acted impartially throughout.”

Davies told the Guardian that the committee had “no involvement in investment decisions made by M&G funds on behalf of clients” and denied seeing “any details” of holdings by the funds.

A spokesman for Prudential said its board members have “no role in individual investment decisions”.

Davies – who becomes chairman of 73% taxpayer-owned RBS in September – http://ift.tt/1AuASEA – did not declare his financial interests in Prudential in the commission’s register of interests, including shares and more than £370,000 in fees received while chairing the body.

The commission required Davies to declare financial interests in companies “dealt with” by the commission. In a document published in June, he declared smaller shareholdings in British Airways parent company IAG and aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce, which he had sold off in 2013.

Davies said his position at Prudential was in the public domain and published on the Airport Commission’s website along with roles he held at Morgan Stanley and a New York-based hedge fund.

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More on Howard Davies’ possible conflicts of interest

 

Appointment:

Patrick McLoughlin was appointed to be Sec of State for Transport on 4th September 2012. link  That was the same day that Justine left.

This Guardian article implies the Airports Commission was set up by George Osborne. 2nd Sept 2012 Link

The Airports Commission’s formation was announced by Patrick McLoughlin on 7th September when he said: “The government has asked Sir Howard Davies to chair an independent Commission ….”  Link

So the planning for that must have happened at least two months earlier – ie. by early July. At that time Justine Greening would have been at the DfT. So it seems the appointment of Howard Davies was done by Osborne, and not the DfT?

 

Link with Singapore’s GIC

Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) own 11.2% of Heathrow Airport Holdings.  Link  and   HAL link

“In 2009 Davies was appointed as advisor to the Investment Strategy Committee of the Government Investment Corporation of Singapore (GIC). Two years later he joined its International Advisory Board. Davies resigned from both positions in September 2012, on appointment to the chair of the Airports Commission.”  Link

The sale of Gatwick airport was agreed in October 2009 and completed in December 2009.  Link 

Howard Davies joined the GIC ( Investment Strategy Committee of the Government Investment Corporation of Singapore ) in 2009 (month not specified but it must have been by December).

Airports Commission website

At the start of the Airports Commission, they introduced the members etc on 2nd November 2012.   Link 

That gives a short list of the activities of the other commissioners. Not Howard Davies himself.

There are no other documents from the Airports Commission, on its website, other than its (operating protocol – nothing on Howard Davies in that) at its start.  See Link  for links to its earliest documents.

The only document showing any shares or interests of Howard Davies,in relation to the Airports Commission was dated 29.6.2015. This was disclosing the IAG shares and the Rolls Royce shares, in response to the challenge by the Teddington Action Group. Link

It is possible there are documents held by the DfT etc, on earlier conflicts of interest – on the setting up of the Airports Commission.   That would appear unlikely, as they did not pick up on the much publicised conflict of interest that emerged about Geoff Muirhead.  Link 

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Links between Davies and companies that will benefit from an expanded Heathrow

5th August 2015  (Teddington Action Group)

Today we are publishing information which uncovers previously undisclosed relationships between the Airports Commission chair Sir Howard Davies, and companies that stand to gain from an expanded Heathrow:GIC Private Ltd and Prudential Assurance.

The Singapore based company GIC Private Ltd (formerly known as Government of Singapore Investment Corporation) first acquired joint control of BAA plc, owner of Heathrow, in April 2006 by buying a 10% stake. It was reported in 2014 that GIC owned 11.2% of the shares in Heathrow Airport Holdings.

In letters to TAG, a Treasury solicitor has acknowledged that Sir Howard was an advisor to GIC, (Davies’ role included advising them on “new growth opportunities”) but claimed he relinquished this role when taking up the appointment of chairman of the Airports Commission in 2012.

The Commission’s lawyers confirmed to TAG that Sir Howard has been a non-executive director of Prudential Assurance since 2010. It has been reported that Prudential, through its investment subsidiary M&G Real Estates, acquired hotels around Heathrow (Hilton and Shiva Hotels) in 2013.

M&G are reported to have applied for, and been granted, planning consent for the re-development of the Heathrow Summit Centre. In June 2015, it was reported to have restructured its interests to take full ownership of Heathrow Corporate Park.

Sir Howard is waiting to take up the chairmanship of the Royal Bank of Scotland.  RBS is the lead banker for companies that own Gatwick and Heathrow.  The Airports Commission’s first task was to discern whether the south-east needed more airport capacity.

Lawyers for the Commission denied grounds for presumed or apparent bias but admitted Sir Howard’s interest in RBS had not appeared as a Declared Interest on the Airports Commission’s website. Sir Howard also failed to declare his links to GIC Private Ltd and Prudential Assurance.

A spokesperson for TAG said: “The Commission’s work has been held up by the Government as a truly independent review of the country’s future aviation strategy. For communities living in the shadow of Heathrow who face even more noise and toxic pollution if Heathrow expands, the revelations that the Chair of the Commission has links to a number of companies who stand to gain from an expanded Heathrow is astonishing. £20million of taxpayer’s money has been spent on the Commission and we now demand answers: what information did Sir Howard declare prior to his appointment and how much did the Government know when they appointed him?”

Background

12 June 2015 – TAG give notice of their intention to seek a Judicial Review of the Commission’s work in respect of the following:
1. that potential conflicts of interest had arisen due to Sir Howard’s accepting the Chairmanship of the Royal Bank of Scotland (the banker for companies which own Gatwick and Heathrow airports).
2. that the Commission’s May 2015 consultation on air quality was rushed and insufficiently publicised, so they had not had a fair chance to respond.

22 June 2015 – RBS announces a delay to Sir Howard taking up his new post as Chair of the Bank until after he had completed his work with the Airports Commission.

1 July 2015 – The Airports Commission publishes its final report recommending a new third runway be built at Heathrow Airport.

2 July 2015 – The Airports Commission’s solicitor responds to TAG’s pre-action letter of claim:
• Denying that Sir Howard had a legal interest in RBS while Chair of the Commission stating “No resolutions have yet been passed to put him on the board of RBS or make him chairman. He therefore has no formal employment or other contractual relationship with RBS during his tenure as Chair of the Commission“.
• In responding to TAG’s assertion that Sir Howard’s interest in RBS had not appeared as a Declared Interest on the Airports Commission’s website, the Commission’s lawyers admitted that this was an oversight which had been rectified. Then, in seeming contradiction to its suggestions that Sir Howard had no legal interest in RBS, states “The fact of his future role was widely reported in the press at the time and has thus been in the public domain since then“.
• Furthermore, in seeking to demonstrate that a conflict of interest was not possible, the Airports Commission’s solicitor writes: “A protocol was put in place to ensure that RBS did not share any information relating to its aviation work with Sir Howard at any time during his tenure as Chairman of the Commission“.

10 July 2015 – TAG writes further letter to Airports Commission stating that Sir Howard’s involvement with GIC Limited and Prudential Assurance gives rise to allegations of apparent bias as a fair-minded observer would conclude that there was a real possibility that Sir Howard has been biased. TAG’s letter also highlights that Sir Howard’s Declared Interests makes no mention of his involvement with the two companies – despite this being revised by the Commission in March and then again in June 2015 to include his new post at RBS.

27 July 2015 – Response from Treasury Solicitor which:
• Confirms Sir Howard joined GIC in 2009 and was appointed to its International advisory board in 2011 but claims he resigned in 2012 upon being appointed chairman of the Airports Commission.
• Admits that Sir Howard is a director of Prudential and that M&G is a subsidiary of Prudential. It is admitted that Sir Howard owns shares in Prudential although it is denied that Sir Howard has any remuneration directly from M&G’s investments.
• The Solicitor does not respond to the point that these positions were not listed in Sir Howard’s Declared Interests on the Commission’s website, but instead states that they were in the public domain – via Wikipedia.

Enclosures:

The attached letters between TAG, the Department for Transport and the Airports Commission revolve around pre-judicial review action TAG launched on 12 June, questioning Sir Howard’s acceptance of the Chairmanship of the Royal Bank of Scotland, RBS.

Document 1 – 12 June 2015 TAG pre-action protocol letter to Airports Commission and Department for Transport
Document 2 – 2 July 2015 Treasury solicitor’s response to pre-action protocol letter on behalf of the Commission.
Document 3 – 10 July 2015 TAG follow-up letter to Airports Commission
Document 4 – 27 July 2015 Treasury solicitor’s response to TAG’s letter of 10 July 2015

150331-Register-of-Interests-Form-Howard-Davies.pdf (March 2015)

150629-Register-of-Interests-Form-Howard-Davies.pdf (June 2015)

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Jeremy Corbyn’s election as Labour leader could scupper plans for Heathrow 3rd runway

The election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party could scupper plans for a 3rd Heathrow runway, as he has now declared his opposition to it.  The three other Labour contenders, Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall,  all support the plan to expand Heathrow.  Jeremy Corbyn appears most likely to win the leadership contest.  If the Conservative party needs to get a Heathrow runway approved in Parliament, he may need Labour to be behind it. When the Airports Commission issued their final report on 1st July, Labour supported a Heathrow runway and wanted a quick decision by the Government to get on with it.  But now Mr Corbyn said: “A third runway at Heathrow would mean 4,000 homes demolished and 10,000 people displaced. It would cause massive increases in noise and air pollution and inflict misery on hundreds of thousands of Londoners. UK air pollution is already above EU limits, and 30,000 people are dying every year because of it”. He wants better transport links to airports, betteru se of existing capacity, and more even spread to the regions. Of the London Mayoral candidates, Tessa Jowell, Gareth Thomas and David Lammy back Heathrow, and Sadiq Khan, Christian Wolmar and  Diane Abbott are against.
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Jeremy Corbyn’s election as leader of Labour party could scupper plans for third runway at Heathrow

Corbyn has joined the likes of Boris Johnson in opposing the plans

By ANDREW GRICE (POLITICAL EDITOR, Independent)

1 August 2015

The election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party could scupper plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport after he came out against the project.

Although the three other Labour contenders all support the plan to expand Heathrow, the left-wing backbencher has become the bookmakers’ favourite to win the contest.

Supporting nominations by constituency Labour parties closed at midnight. Late on 31 July Mr Corbyn was ahead with 147, followed by Andy Burnham on 110; Yvette Cooper on 109 and Liz Kendall on 18.  Members vote individually and do not have to attend nomination meetings, but the figures are another sign of the strong grassroots support for Mr Corbyn.

Labour’s stance on Heathrow matters because David Cameron is believed to be moving in favour of the third runway endorsed in July by the Airports Commission chaired by Sir Howard Davies. However, the Prime Minister might need the votes of the Labour Opposition to secure Commons backing for the plan, because several Conservative MPs would almost certainly vote against it – including Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, and Zac Goldsmith, who hopes to succeed him in the job next May.

Mr Corbyn told The Independent: “A third runway at Heathrow would mean 4,000 homes demolished and 10,000 people displaced. It would cause massive increases in noise and air pollution and inflict misery on hundreds of thousands of Londoners. UK air pollution is already above EU limits, and 30,000 people are dying every year because of it.”

The Islington North MP added: “We should be ensuring our existing national and regional airports are linked effectively by public transport and work together to maximise existing capacity and help spread economic benefits across the country.”

In contrast, Mr Burnham believes it is time to “just get on with it” following the Davies report. He is backing Michael Dugher, one of his supporters, who as shadow Transport Secretary last month  dropped Labour’s opposition to Heathrow expansion under Ed Miliband.

Ms Kendall was the first leadership runner to endorse  a third runway.  She said: “The country has to get behind this now – the time for fudge and indecision is over. Many thousands of jobs right across the country depend on Britain maintaining an international hub airport that keeps pace with the rest of the world. With my leadership, Labour will be a party of jobs and work – so I will back the commission’s decision. We need to act now.”

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Ms Cooper, who has put tackling climate change at the heart of her leadership campaign, said the Heathrow project should go ahead provided the environmental safeguards proposed by the commission are introduced. She said: “We have spent a very long time on this; we do need to get on with it. The experts have looked at it and made a recommendation. I think we should go with it.”

Before the 2010 election, Mr Cameron gave a “no ifs, no buts” pledge to oppose a third runway, but ministers say the latest scheme is very different to the one proposed then.  He has appointed two strong supporters of Heathrow expansion, the Chancellor George Osborne and Business Secretary Sajid Javid, to a Cabinet committee that will consider the Davies blueprint, while omitting five Cabinet ministers who oppose it.Heathrow has also split the candidates hoping to be Labour’s candidate for London Mayor next May. Dame Tessa Jowell and Gareth Thomas back expansion  but it is opposed by Sadiq Khan, Diane Abbott and Christian Wolmar, while David Lammy would support it if there were a new regulator with powers to limit noise and air pollution.

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Labour back Heathrow expansion but the party are divided over the issue

1.7.2015 (Labour List)

Labour today confirmed they will back Heathrow expansion – but the party are not completely united on the issue.

Today the Airports Commission, also known as the Davies Commission, has recommended that a third runway should be built at Heathrow. It was thought the Commission might leave room for expansion to take place at Gatwick. However after three years of investigation, the Commission has concluded that it is “clear and unanimous” that Heathrow is the best place for a new runway to be built. Only if noise and air pollution conditions are met.

Labour have decided to back this expansion. Michael Dugher, Shadow Transport Secretary, is thought to personally be in support of the runway. Before the party officially declared their position at PMQs this lunchtime, Dugher said:

“Labour has always been clear that more airport capacity is vital to Britain’s economic success and we need action if we are to maintain our status as Europe’s most important aviation hub.

“We will scrutinise the Airports Commission’s final report carefully. If the recommendation can meet a number of tests, including consistency with our climate change obligations, we will take a swift decision to back Sir Howard Davies’ proposals.”

On a similar note, Labour MP Louise Ellman, who chair of the transport select committee, said she strongly supported the Commission’s recommendations:

“Sir Howard’s findings echo those of the committee I chaired in the last parliament, when we concluded that a third runway at Heathrow was necessary for the UK to maintain its status as an international aviation hub.

“A new runway at Heathrow would also help to meet the current capacity shortfall, and provide a much-needed opportunity to improve connectivity from airports across the regions and nations of the UK.”

Harriet Harman confirmed Labour’s support for a third runway at PMQs today, telling Cameron that if he were to bring forward legislation supporting the Davies Report’s findings, Labour would vote in favour. Cameron said the Government would come to a decision by the end of the year. The PM face pressure from current London Mayor Boris Johnson and the likely Tory candidate for the job in 2016, Zac Goldsmith, to oppose a third runway.

However, Labour, like the Conservatives, are divided over the issue. London Mayoral candidates Diane Abbott, Sadiq Khan and Christian Wolmar (who is also a transport expert) are all opposed to expansion.

Khan, former shadow justice secretary, came out against a third runway recently despite having previously backed the proposition. The MP for Tooting has argued that expansion should be ruled out on the grounds of “awful air quality”, noise and inadequate infrastructure. Of all the candidates in the race (excluding Wolmar, who has never been an MP) Abbott is the only one who voted against a third runway at Heathrow under Gordon Brown.

Not all mayoral candidates are anti-expansion; Gareth Thomas has declared his support for a third runway.He argued: “I think Londoners support airport expansion and understands the number of jobs it can bring to the area. There is a vociferous minority opposing expansion, but I am not sure they representative of what most Londoners think .”

Tessa Jowell is thought to be in favour of expansion but has previously said she was waiting for the publication of the Davies Commission until she declared her official position. She has yet to make a statement on this. Similarly David Lammy has offered his tentative support for the proposals

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London Mayoral candidates:

Labour Mayoral candidate David Lammy backs Heathrow 3rd runway, as “good for London and good for Londoners” http://ift.tt/1IDgtS0 …

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London Mayoral candidate, Tessa Jowell backs Heathrow runway, and wants a speedy decision – but knows H3R unpopular http://ift.tt/1LgPkoW …

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Labour candidate for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan:”I will do everything I can to stop Heathrow expansion” 1.7.2015 https://shar.es/1sSFDI

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Labour mayoral candidate Diane Abbott, against Heathrow runway. Has been for some time. http://ift.tt/1IgW95b …
Diane for London @DianeforLondon
#LondonSelects “one of the most important things to cut air pollution in London is to stop the building of a 3rd runway” @HackneyAbbott

 

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Hounslow Council “positive and productive” and “better working relationship” with Heathrow

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