Entec Bulletin
Heathrow Terminal 5 Inquiry
Over recent years many airports in the UK have been struggling to cope with the rise in passenger demand. And as passenger confidence is restored following the terrorist attacks in the US, the long-term outlook is that capacity will continue to rise.In 1993 BAA submitted its application to expand the capacity of Heathrow airport by around 30 million passengers per annum through the provision of a new terminal with supporting infrastructure. The proposal became the subject of the UK's longest running planning inquiry.
The environmental impacts of the development were high on the agenda of both BAA and the local planning authority. The impact on air quality was a particular focus.
Entec was appointed to head the team that assessed the air quality impacts arising from the proposed development and its construction. The project required a comprehensive approach and extremely robust methodology. It focused on the assessment of existing air quality at, and around, the airport and comparisons were made with the remainder of the UK. It also involved the modelling of atmospheric emissions: nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter. The assessments used a base year of 1993 and two future cases were developed - predictive impacts up to 2016 with and without the terminal.
The individual air quality assessments were published in a series of reports covering, for example, the overall impact of the terminal, modelling sensitivity and uncertainty tests, construction, calculation of short period concentrations, as well as model and monitoring comparisons. The assessments of existing and future air quality were used as the basis of evidence prepared and presented at the inquiry.
For the construction activity specifically, the assessment concentrated on nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and nuisance dusts following the change in emissions and concentrations in five years. The assessment showed the impacts of construction against a 'no Terminal 5' case. Entec presented evidence at the inquiry in both the air quality and construction topics. Other projects were also undertaken by Entec and included contaminated land/groundwater assessments, development of a construction waste minimisation strategy and a demographic study.
Of course there is more to planning than sound technical skills. The early publication of the air quality assessment facilitated extensive discussions with the local planning authority and other interested parties, which enabled the preparation and agreement of joint position statements on much of the technical detail of the monitoring and modelling studies.
Entec led these discussions on behalf of BAA and prepared the position statements.
By combining environmental and scientific expertise with a
clear understanding of the planning process, Entec was able to prepare a comprehensive
and robust case for BAA. The submission of the agreed position statements to
the inquiry provided a focus to the issues that concerned all parties and as
a result, reduced inquiry time on the air quality topics.
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