TP8

Policy TP8 - Transport Policy 8

Transport Policy 8: The Department will require all applications for major development to be accompanied by a Transport Assessment.(1)

11.6 Airports and Airfields

11.6.1 Whilst it is acknowledged that airport development in general will be necessary in order to serve the economic and recreational needs of the Island, such need should be balanced against the environmental consequences that development may have, in particular visual, traffic, and noise impacts.

11.6.2 The aim of the Department of Transport Airports Division is "to ensure that sufficient operating capacity is provided to meet present and anticipated demand, so that the travelling public have the facilities and service they require." The Ronaldsway Airport Master Plan published by the Department of Transport in April 2000 anticipates that the Airport will require increasing levels of space in order to satisfy a projected Island economic growth rate of 4% p.a. and to operate efficiently in the future. The Master Plan indicates that space is likely to be required for uses such as hangar/engineering development, apron extension, and car parking. In 2006, planning permission was granted for Runway End Safety Areas (RESA)/runway extension and, at the time of writing, was the subject of an appeal. The Department of Transport updated the Airport Master Plan in 2006. This indicates that any new or extended facilities required by growth in air traffic and/or passenger numbers for the low and high forecasts including in the Master Plan can be accommodated within the existing perimeter of the airport. Accordingly, while the Spatial Strategy identifies the Gateway role of the Airport there do not appear to be any strategic land use implications from the Master Plan. The recent announcement by the Department of Transport to provide a by-pass to the East of Ballasalla will resolve current problems within the village; improve access to the Airport from Douglas; and address any traffic generated by growth in the use of the airport.

11.6.3 The operation of the Airport in a safe and efficient manner also depends upon the safeguarding of approach and departure routes to ensure that new development does not represent an undue risk to air travellers or those on the ground. Policies and guidance in respect of the location, size, and form of new development in the vicinity of Ronaldsway Airport should be included in the area plan covering Castletown and Malew. Associated with the principal Runway 08, extending south-west over Castletown is the Public Safety Zone (PSZ). While the area covered by the PSZ has been reduced twice in the past 20 years in response to increased aviation safety it remains the case that this is the area within which there is statistically a higher risk of an aircraft accident. It is therefore proper practice that, within the PSZ, planning permission should not be granted for any development proposal which is likely to increase significantly the number of persons residing, working, or congregating within the zone. The DoT (Airports Division) should be consulted in relation to development in this area. This area will be incorporated into the new Area Plan for the South.

11.6.4 Jurby Airfield is vested in the Department of Transport but is not licensed, with responsibility for the co-ordination of all activities - whether or not aviation-related - delegated to the Department of Tourism and Leisure. Whilst aviation activity at the airfield is generally limited to lightweight aircraft and occasional military and display uses and there is no current plan to develop Jurby Airfield for other aviation purposes, it is the Department of Transport's policy to continue to safeguard the main runway for future emergency and general aviation use only. Andreas Airfield is private and unregistered. It is used for general aviation and by a flying club and as an emergency landing strip when Ronaldsway is fogbound. Future growth of aviation may require other aviation sites. Should this prove to be the case they will need to be assessed against the environmental policies of the Plan. Any other airfields on the Island are privately owned and unlicensed, and whilst they may not be subject to formal safeguarding requirements the impact of new development on the use of such facilities should be carefully considered.

(1) Transport Assessment is defined in Appendix 1