Crawley and GATWICK. THRIVING TOGETHER
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Crawley AND GATWICK. THRIVING TOGETHER. gatwickobviously.com // @LGWobviously gatwickobviously.com // @LGWobviously Contents // FOREWORD 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 CRAWLEY AND GATWICK TODAY 8 OUR EXPANSION PLANS 9 ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH 10 OUR COMMUNITY PLEDGES 12 TRANSPORT CONNECTIONS 17 SUPPORTING ECONOMIC GROWTH 18 Crawley AND GATWICK. THRIVING TOGETHER. 3 // GATWICK CAN CONNECT CRAWLEY TO THE WORLD. TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS // 4 Crawley AND GATWICK. THRIVING TOGETHER. Foreword // Crawley is a thriving new town between London and the South Coast, home to over 100,000 residents and more than 3,700 vibrant businesses. The Borough is also home to Gatwick, the UK’s second largest airport. We are proud to be at the heart of Crawley’s economy as one of the town’s largest employers, and supporting 44 local businesses through our supply chain. Residents of Crawley enjoy the convenience of having an international gateway on their doorstep for business and leisure travel. Many large international firms have chosen to locate in Crawley to be close to Gatwick and connected to the world. Businesses throughout the Borough benefit directly and indirectly from the many opportunities the airport provides. In 2012, the Government established the independent Airports Commission, led by Sir Howard Davies. The Commission will make its recommendation to Government next year on whether the UK’s next runway should be built at Heathrow or Gatwick. In 2014 Gatwick has seen record passenger numbers, with over 37 million people passing through the airport annually. We are already the world’s busiest single runway airport, and we can grow further by expanding our runway capacity. A second runway here at Gatwick could be open by 2025 and could see our passenger numbers more than double by 2050. We are committed to responsible, sustainable development. We recognise that must be treated carefully and sensitively, with impacts minimised and mitigated. That’s why we are working closely with our neighbouring local authorities to reduce and manage the impacts of expansion, and why we have made a series of pledges to our local community, which we explain in this report. We are privileged to have received a vote of confidence from the residents and businesses of Crawley, who, according to independent polling, show majority support for expansion of Gatwick. The people of Crawley now have a once in a lifetime opportunity to ensure that Gatwick’s continued success benefits future generations, by supporting the transformation of Gatwick into a two runway airport capable of competing on equal terms with Heathrow. Stewart Wingate Chief Executive, Gatwick Airport Crawley AND GATWICK. THRIVING TOGETHER. 5 // THE PEOPLE OF CRAWLEY NOW HAVE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY // 6 Crawley AND GATWICK. THRIVING TOGETHER. Executive summary // The Airport Commission’s 2015 recommendation to Government SUSTAINABLE Business & represents one of the most important moments for infrastructure in the GROWTH Technology present day. Expansion at Gatwick will help Gatwick is well placed to support The choice facing the Commission is the economy of Crawley to grow growth in some of the UK’s on the face of it a simple one – should and thrive, through its share of existing and emergent growth expansion occur at Gatwick or Heathrow. the economic benefit created by sectors as well as strengthen Gatwick across the South East. links to global business markets. But the fast changing world of aviation, the global economic challenges faced by the UK and the need to protect and safeguard our environment and quality of life, make the decision complex and its ramifications will be felt for a generation. Gatwick has made its case on the wider benefits which will be felt through economic growth related to development of runway capacity, balanced with Housing & Transport environmental and infrastructure infrastructure Investment in Gatwick’s considerations. superior transport links will We set out in this report the benefits An expanded Gatwick will support help spread the economic to Crawley of development at Gatwick, the delivery of new homes and benefits of expansion across and we explain how we propose to essential local infrastructure. a much wider area. minimise and mitigate the impacts of development. Our vision is for a network of competing airports in the South East, with two world class gateways, Gatwick and Heathrow, driving growth locally regionally and nationally. This report uses data gathered from our technical submissions to the Airports Commission, researched and Jobs & Deliverability compiled by a number of advisors including Oxera, Farrells, RPS, and Arup. employment Gatwick’s plans for fast and The views and opinions expressed are simple expansion and the those of Gatwick Airport. Gatwick expansion will drive regeneration benefits show 100,000 catalytic jobs, which that Gatwick is the most will be spread throughout the deliverable option. South East, including Crawley. Crawley AND GATWICK. THRIVING TOGETHER. 7 CRAWLEY AND GATWICK TODAY // Crawley is a New Town located between London and the South Coast with a population of just over 100,000 and around 3,700 businesses. Its economy generates a gross value added (GVA) of more than £3.6 billion for the UK economy and creates employment for nearly 100,000 people. Crawley is an urban place that benefits from a rural setting, as well as a unique mix of modernity and heritage. The town benefits from strong road and rail links to London and the South Coast and is home to the regional and national headquarters of a number of international firms. Gatwick is located to the north of the town and is a significant contributor to the local economy, both in terms of direct employment and attracting inward investment. The town is the largest economic centre in the northern West Sussex sub-region and generates significant employment for surrounding areas – nearly one third of employees commute into the borough. Crawley enjoys historically low levels of unemployment and a generally high level of affluence, though small pockets of deprivation do exist. The town centre is key to Crawley’s sub-regional economic role and its retail, office and leisure facilities are a significant draw for residents of the wider area. Gatwick Airport generates £2 billion of GVA to the UK economy, is responsible for 21,000 jobs on site, and for a further 10,000 supply chain jobs locally. The airport has drawn many businesses to locate in Crawley, and the increasing number of routes, including routes to emerging economies, continues to enhance Gatwick’s role as a catalyst for the borough’s economy. 8 Crawley AND GATWICK. THRIVING TOGETHER. OUR EXPANSION PLANS // London and the South East is the world’s number one aviation market. economic Better access Government set up the Airports Commission to look at the future benefits and passenger of aviation in the South East. The Commission has determined that a new Expanding Gatwick will generate experience runway is needed by 2030, and they will more benefits for Crawley, London and the South East than With the completion of the be recommending to Government in expanding Heathrow. Thameslink programme in Summer 2015 whether this new runway 2018 Gatwick will be within one should be at Heathrow or at Gatwick. change of over 1,000 rail stations We are making our case that Gatwick across the UK. Journey times should be chosen. Responsibly through the new Gatwick will be much quicker with more frequent managed growth at Gatwick provides trains to key destinations. a once in a generation opportunity to benefit Crawley. We strongly believe that building a second runway at Gatwick is better for The most deliverable the South East than building a third runway at Heathrow. Expanding Gatwick option with less risk will create two competing world class airports serving London and the South to Government East, and competition means lower fares and better service overall. We Gatwick can deliver the new runway by 2025, earlier than any other can build a runway at Gatwick more The right future option. Expansion at Heathrow would quickly and at a lower cost than building cost twice as much and would involve at Heathrow. Crucially, at a time of capacity diverting and tunnelling the M25, tight public spending, our option won’t which would cause major disruption. cost the taxpayer anything, whereas A second runway at Gatwick would expansion at Heathrow will involve great enable the London airport system to serve 440 destinations - more cost to the public purse. than a third runway at Heathrow. Already the second largest airport in the UK and the world’s busiest single runway airport, Gatwick is a thriving airport at the heart of Crawley’s economy, with potential to grow. The ability of Crawley’s businesses to attract the best talent , to export high quality services and reach customers, clients More competition, and suppliers is enhanced by access to with lower fares a competing system of airports in the Fewer South East , and particularly by having Expanding Gatwick will cut Gatwick on their doorstep. Heathrow’s dominant market share environmental from 52% to 35% by 2050 exposing it to full competition for the first time impacts - cutting business fares to the US by £2,000 per round trip. A second runway at Gatwick would affect less than 5% of the households affected at Heathrow today. Over 700,000 people would be affected by noise at Heathrow. Crawley AND GATWICK. THRIVING TOGETHER. 9 ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH // Minimising impacts on local Earlier this year Gatwick trialled a new Gatwick’s unique Council Tax Initiative communities flight path in partnership with NATS would see those homes most affected (National Air Traffic Services), which by noise from a second runway We are very aware that, although has meant that some people have receiving annual compensation Gatwick brings economic and been affected by noise from aircraft in equivalent to Band A Council Tax employment benefits, the airport also a different way.