AUGUST 2014 INTERIM AIRPORT SURFACENOISE ACTION ACCESS PLAN STRATEGY2013-2018 2008-2011 APRIL 2009 CONTENTS NOISE ACTION 1. FOREWORD 1 2. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT 3 NOISE ACTION 3. LONDON LUTON AIRPORT 5 4. PUBLIC CONSULTATION 7 5. LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK 9 6. NOISE AND NOISE MAPPING 15 7. IDENTIFICATION OF AIRCRAFT NOISE PROBLEMS 21 8. MANAGING AIRCRAFT NOISE 23 9. LONG TERM STRATEGY AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 30 10. CONCLUSION 32 11. APPENDICES 34 PAGE 1 NOISE ACTION 1. FOREWORD PAGE 2 NOISE ACTION London Luton Airport is proud of its management and seek views from the the local community, such as the RNAV1 noise management record, developed local community. It has also given us the trials that were carried out in June 2013, through active engagement with the chance to enhance our voluntary noise and were aimed at ensuring aircraft stay London Luton Airport Consultative management strategy and to identify on a more tightly defi ned fl ight path, Committee (LLACC), local community 55 actions to ensure noise impacts are chosen to avoid populated areas as far groups, airlines, other operators and our managed, measured and communicated as possible. air traffi c control provider. Unlike many effectively. The majority of these actions major UK airports, the majority of London were developed as part of the fi rst In developing the Noise Action Plan in Luton’s noise policies and interventions version of the government approved 2009 there was widespread consultation; have been developed voluntarily, in a Noise Action Plan 2010-2015. The list an initial 16 week process saw active bid to ensure that we protect our has been further expanded to incorporate engagement from stakeholders, local communities from excessive a new suite of planning conditions neighbouring local authorities, aircraft noise. that have been set as part of planning community groups and local residents permission to develop the airport. at our public exhibitions. A subsequent Reviewing the Noise Action Plan has review of the Noise Action Plan in 2014 provided an opportunity to consider We also continuously look at new ways to was also subject to further scrutiny our progress with respect to noise mitigate the impact of aircraft noise on through a four week consultation by the independent LLACC members. I would like to thank all stakeholders and community members who took the time to submit representations. Such participation is vital in helping the airport go beyond the requirements of best practice and legislation to mitigate and reduce noise impacts. By listening to local people, I believe we have been able to fi nd an appropriate balance between the social, economic and environmental realities of our operations. We look forward to working with the LLACC and our aviation community to deliver against the commitments set out in this document. Neil Thompson Operations Director – London Luton Airport Operations Ltd. PAGE 3 NOISE ACTION 2. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT PAGE 4 This Noise Action Plan has been prepared Secretary of State for Environment, in response to the Environmental Noise Food and Rural Affairs and will be Directive (2002/49/EC) which requires all published in its fi nal format once Member States within the European Union formal adoption has been confi rmed by to produce Noise Maps and Action Plans DEFRA. Whilst the original Noise Action for the main sources of environmental Plan (2010-2015) was subject to a noise, including airports. This Plan comprehensive consultation process, addresses the period 2013 – 2018, this reviewed version (2013-2018) whilst the previous approved Noise Action remains broadly in line with the original Plan addressed the period 2010 – 2015. but has been revised to include updated noise mapping and progress on noise The requirements of the Environmental actions, as advised by DEFRA, with no Noise Directive (2002/49/EC) are requirement for extensive consultation. transposed into the Environmental Noise However, the LLACC has been involved (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended) in the development and consultation and build upon the Government’s aim, as process throughout. set out in the Aviation Policy Framework (March 2013), “to limit and where possible Aircraft noise issues remain high on the reduce the number of people in the UK agenda of many who live around airports signifi cantly affected by aircraft noise”. and the aviation industry recognises that it needs to better understand The Regulations require the preparation of specifi c issues that disturb the public. Strategic Noise Maps, which were initially London Luton Airport is committed to submitted to DEFRA in 2007, and revised being a good neighbour and endeavours in 2012 (based on aircraft movements in at all times to minimise the impact of 2011). This Noise Action Plan has been its operations on local communities. developed having regard for the results of Continued and enhanced consultation the 2012 noise mapping and in accordance with the community is essential so that with the Environmental Noise (England) an appropriate balance can be struck Regulations 2006 (as amended) and between the socio-economic benefi ts of associated guidance updated by DEFRA airport operations and its environmental in July 2013. impacts. This Noise Action Plan, once adopted by DEFRA, will provide a London Luton Airport Operations Limited, meaningful framework for London Luton as operator of London Luton Airport, is Airport and its Consultative Committee the competent authority for developing to build upon it’s established voluntary this Noise Action Plan. This Noise Action approach to the proactive management Plan will be formally submitted to the of aircraft noise in and around the airport. PAGE 5 3. LONDON LUTON AIRPORT NOISE ACTION PAGE 6 In 2011 (which is the assessment year for this Noise Action Plan), London Luton Airport handled 9.5 million passengers. In addition to passenger activity, the airport is also an important international centre for business aviation, cargo and aircraft maintenance. London Luton Airport has one runway which is 2160m in length and has six main Noise Preferential Routes (NPRs), three departing in an easterly direction and three departing in a westerly direction. There are two arrival routes, one arriving from a westerly direction and one from the east. The closest residential areas to the airport are those located to the south and south-west of Luton but with more densely populated areas to the north and north-west. There are a number of small villages within relatively close proximity. Breachwood Green and Whitwell are located to the east and are predominantly affected by easterly departures and westerly arrivals. Residential areas to the west, such as Slip End, Caddington, Flamstead and Markyate are generally affected by easterly arrivals or westerly departures. In addition to aircraft noise originating from London Luton Airport, the surrounding areas are also affected to varying degrees by road traffi c noise, as well as overfl ights travelling to and from other UK airports. NOISE ACTION PAGE 7 NOISE ACTION 4. PUBLIC CONSULTATION PAGE 8 This Noise Action Plan has been According to guidance updated by in the consultation process once it has developed with the support of the LLACC, DEFRA in July 2013, the airport involved been formally adopted by DEFRA. It NATS (our air traffi c control provider) and LLACC members in a further four week will also be published on the airport airline partners. consultation when the Noise Action Plan community website at www.london- was updated to incorporate the results lutoninthecommunity.co.uk/noise-action- During the drafting of the initial Noise from noise mapping undertaken in 2012. plan. Action Plan in 2009, London Luton Airport This consultation ran from 25th June to held a 16 week consultation exercise 23rd July 2014. London Luton Airport, through its to seek the views of key stakeholders Consultative Committee, remains and the local community, from 28th A schedule of all those individuals and committed to public engagement and September 2009 to 17th January organisations that were notifi ed of the communication with respect to noise 2010. During the consultation period consultation in 2014 can be found in management. This consultative approach representatives from London Luton Appendix A, and a list of those that replied will be sustained throughout the life of Airport attended meetings with Planning can be found in Appendix B. Feedback this Noise Action Plan. and Environmental Health Offi cers from received during the consultation is neighbouring local authorities and other summarised in Appendix C, along with a key stakeholders and community groups reasoned justifi cation for the response to on request. In addition London Luton the issues raised. Airport hosted two public exhibitions to give local residents the opportunity to ask Copies of the fi nal Noise Action Plan questions about the Noise Action Plan and (2013 -2018) will be sent to key our approach to noise management. stakeholders and those who participated PAGE 9 5. LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK NOISE ACTION PAGE 10 Whilst not an exhaustive list, the following result without necessarily determining section sets out a summary of the relevant a means of how it can be achieved. international, national and local legislation and policy for aircraft noise management. European Directives 2006/93 Where appropriate, the local policy and and 2002/30 voluntary restrictions (or ‘limit values’) This legislation enabled Member States to outlined below have been agreed with the phase out Chapter 2 aircraft and restrict local planning authority and the LLACC. marginally compliant Chapter 3 aircraft (discretionary). International Environmental Noise Directive ICAO Regulatory Framework (2002/49/EC) The International Civil Aviation Directive 2002/49/EC is the Organisation (ICAO) is the agency of the Environmental Noise Directive (END) United Nations which oversees the civil whose aims are ‘to defi ne a common aviation industry. ICAO adopts standards, approach intended to avoid, prevent or protocols and recommended practices reduce on a prioritised basis the harmful relating to all aspects of international effects, including annoyance, due to aviation.