Case Study: BAA Ltd
Business Case:
Undertake a voluntary health impact assessment as part of plans to build a second runway at Stansted in the UK.
Our Approach
BAA Ltd owns and operates seven UK airports, including Stansted. BAA is involved in nearly every area of airport life - from day-to-day security and retail, to strategy and investment.
Located less than 31 miles from London, Stansted is the UK’s third busiest airport. Currently 23.4 million people use the airport and 32 scheduled and charter airlines serve 165 destinations across 35 countries. BAA is seeking permission to increase the capacity of Stansted Airport. The addition of a second runway, referred to as the G2 Project, is anticipated to be operational in 2015 and will enable about 68 million passengers to use the airport by around 2030. As well as the new runway, the G2 Project will entail the construction of additional infrastructure on the airport, such as a new terminal building, and improved surface access by road and rail.
ERM was retained to undertake a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) for the G2 Project. The HIA is not a statutory requirement for a planning application, but BAA opted to undertake the assessment voluntarily. The scope for the study was agreed by the local Strategic Health Authority and BAA.
ERM began work in September 2006 identifying potential health ‘pathways’ or channels by which the project and its associated activities might affect the health of the local community. The HIA was based firmly on available evidence, gathered from two primary sources: scientific literature and stakeholder engagement (with the affected communities). Evidence was then used to develop working methods to assess the impact on health for each pathway identified.
Benefits & Values
The assessment was concluded earlier this year with publication of a HIA report which describes the magnitude of the likely health impacts of a second runway on local residents and identifies ways in which benefits can be maximized and adverse impacts can be minimized. As part of the report ERM also made a number of recommendations and BAA has already published a public note on the related actions they would like to discuss with local authorities and then implement.
It is highly likely that the planning application will be determined through a public inquiry process, in which case the HIA will be a piece of evidence available to the planning inspector.
The HIA also provides a foundation upon which to build communication with the local community, so that their concerns and needs can be better understood and responded too.
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