Progress note given to the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee: May 2005

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Introduction

1. The paper tabled for the 16 March HACC meeting gave a detailed situation report on progress with the Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow (PSDH).

2. Key developments since then are summarised below. Further background material is on the DfT website: www.dft.gov.uk/aviation/projectheathrow

Air Quality

  • Notes from the third round of Panel meetings (March) are being finalised and will be posted on the DfT website shortly; the fourth round of meetings has just taken place.
  • Data is now being collected from the new AQ monitoring sites, and will be used to validate and calibrate the AQ modelling work in due course.
  • The 'data mining' exercise - to analyse existing data and gain a better understanding of sensitivity to variable factors that affect air quality at Heathrow - is under way, as is the exercise to compare available AQ modelling tools, to ensure fitness for future forecasting.
  • The planned Heathrow LIDAR (laser) measurement project took place in mid-May, aimed at getting a better understanding of the initial dispersion characteristics of aircraft engine emissions; results will now be analysed.
  • Arrangements for the proposed system of peer review are being firmed up.

Mixed Mode/Noise

  • Initial airspace feasibility work by NATS has been completed and a proposed 'Concept of Operations' presented to BAA, as a first step to refining options.
  • Work by CAA/ERCD has begun to check the likely noise impacts and identify what limitations or mitigation measures might be needed to ensure any mixed mode operations comply with the noise contour conditions set out in the White Paper.
  • Implications for the Cranford Agreement and runway alternation are being examined, as is scope for options for limiting mixed mode in order to allow their retention.

Surface Access

Modelling

  • Work continues within BAA on developing its surface access mode share model, due to complete in the summer.
  • Agreement in principle has been reached to employ the Highways Agency's M25 Rapid Widening Model - possibly with enhancements - to represent background traffic on the strategic road network around Heathrow.
  • BAA are developing a model to handle local road traffic, in discussion with DfT and key stakeholders.
  • All model development work should be complete by Summer 2005 and we expect BAA and the HA to commence demand and mode share modelling after that.

Rail

  • Work by the SRA to confirm the business case for AirTrack is largely complete. Further study of the funding options is under consideration.
  • Heathrow issues on Crossrail, including the likely service pattern, remain under discussion.

Roads

  • Possible road engineering and traffic management measures are under further discussion with BAA and the Highways Agency.

General

  • Further meeting of the surface access stakeholder group was held on 20 May.
  • Further work is in hand with BAA to work up the full range of possible surface access options, including demand management, and begin to prioritise packages for detailed assessment.