19 December 2006 · Planning Committee of the Department of Local Government and the Environment
Airport And Premises, Ronaldsway Airport, Ballasalla, Isle Of Man, IM9 2as
The proposal involved creating a 270m rock-armoured promontory into the sea at the eastern end of the main runway (08/26) to extend it by 230m, a 120m extension at the western end adjacent to the A5 Douglas Road, strengthening of the existing runway, extensions to taxiway Alpha, new drainage works, and upgraded lightin…
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The officer concluded that 'the continued operation of the airport within acceptable and safe working practices and regulations is clearly a matter of some national importance' and 'the expansion of t…
Environment Policy 1
Requires protection of countryside and coastline unless overriding national need outweighs harm. Officer applied 'overriding national need' test for airport RESA/safety/growth, balancing against coastal habitat loss/visual change via mitigation conditions.
Environment Policy 10
Protects coastal appearance/ecology unless overriding national need. Assessed promontory as changing but not detrimentally so in airfield context; new habitat creation/recolonisation and rock armour blending accepted despite permanent inter-tidal loss.
Environment Policy 12
Requires EIA for significant coastal impacts. Proposal submitted EIA; officer noted deficiencies but further surveys/EMP addressed via conditions.
Transport Policy 10
Balances airport facility needs against environmental impacts, requiring EIA for scale. Directly references RESA project; national gateway role justified against noise/visual/ecology harms.
Time limit
The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
Approved plans
This permission relates, subject to the other conditions of this notice, to the extension of the airfield and runways and the undertaking of associated ancillary works all as shown in drawings reference 108744/001 - 015 all received on 12th September, 2006 together with the provisions of the Environmental Statement and Planning Statement received at the same time.
Pre-commencement ecological surveys
Prior to the commencement of any building or engineering operations on site, there must be undertaken by the applicant, in consultation with the Wildlife Conservation Division of Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Manx National Heritage further survey work as follows: a) during April/May, detailed survey of the sea bed within the footprint of the proposed promontory and within an area 200 m around that footprint in the inter-tidal and marine areas, b) identification of the location of the sea caves and survey thereof and c) wider survey of the marine biotopes between Santon Gorge and Derbyhaven Bay. Copies of these surveys must be submitted to DAFF and to the Planning Authority and will: i) form the baseline for subsequent monitoring and ii) provide the rationale for identification of additional mitigation and compensation measures both in the Environmental Management Plan required by condition 4 below.
Environmental Management Plan
Prior to the commencement of any building or engineering operations, there must be submitted to and approved by the Planning Authority an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which addresses: a) the establishment of a working party which includes representatives of local residents (Malew Parish Commissioners and those residents to whom party status has been afforded), Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Manx National Heritage, the Planning Authority, The Hatchery and Department of Transport and which i) will be made aware of the progress, monitoring, discovery and any changes arising therefrom and which ii) will be able to advise the developer in relation to any of the matters included in the EMP; b) measures for mitigation of or compensation for any adverse impacts identified in the Environmental Impact Assessment or in the survey work required by condition 3 above, c) method statements for putting into effect the measures referred to in b above, and in particular for translocated plants, dealing with coastal grassland and agrimony and dealing with inter-tidal ecological monitoring and d) a monitoring plan for the construction period and for three years thereafter.
Hatchery water filter
Prior to the commencement of any work on the proposed promontory, there must be provided and fitted a filter to the sea water intake to The Hatchery so as to ensure that the quality of that water is in no respect worse than at present.
No builder's compound in protected area
No permission is hereby granted to the establishment of a builder's compound between the airport buildings and the aviation museum as this is an area known to support flora (orchids) which are protected under the Wildlife Act (1990).
Jetty/conveyor details
If a jetty and/or conveyor is to be used, full details of this together with an assessment of the environmental impact thereof must be approved by the Planning Authority after consultation with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Manx National Heritage prior to any such use.
Archaeological access
The Manx Museum and National Trust must be informed of the date when building work is to commence and be given access at all reasonable times, and reasonable opportunity to inspect the site, observe all excavations and investigate any archaeological features exposed.
Footpath design approval
Prior to the commencement of works on the proposed promontory the applicant must have approved by the Planning Authority further plans which provide full details of the appearance, construction and design of the proposed new footpath.
Contractors' access
Access by contractors' vehicles to the site must be in accordance with approved drawing reference 015.
Do not object but express concerns about transport, noise and pollution and recommend mitigation
Raise no objection subject to more natural promontory form and footpath provision
Advise consultation on hydrants, water supplies and access (recommend Approve)
Recommend liaison on 11kV cables
The original application 06/01572/B by Department of Transport for airfield extension including promontory at seaward end of main runway (08/26), runway extensions at both ends, and ancillary works was permitted. Mary and Dennis Aram appealed the approval, arguing the promontory is unnecessary, citing lack of feasibility studies, unrealistic passenger projections, flawed aircraft type assumptions, inadequate EIA, environmental damage to marine habitats, construction risks, climate change impacts, and lack of scrutiny. They reaffirmed prior objections and included witness statements from Maura Mitchell (marine expert) and Peter Karran MHK (on information withholding). Supporting documents include airport AIP data on runway specs, RESAs, declared distances, and planning conditions requiring EMP and surveys. No inspector's report or decision in documents; appeal ref L09NEW/AP07/0006.
Precedent Value
Appeals against infrastructure can succeed by demanding withheld feasibility studies and highlighting EIA deficiencies; future applicants should ensure full disclosure of studies and realistic forecasts.
