The Greater South East’s international connectivity is constrained by the limited runway capacity at its busiest airports, which causes delays and restricts growth of direct links to emerging economies.
A number of recent proposals in support of a Thames Estuary Hub Airport, with integrated infrastructure development, have emerged, sparking a public debate about the best way to tackle the UK’s aviation capacity challenge.
ICE London, South East England and East of England hosted an aviation debate at One Great George Street on Monday 23 April chaired by the Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, (Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Infrastructure) The motion This house believes the Thames Estuary airport is a viable option for providing additional national hub runway capacity was explored by an expert panel comprising Huw Thomas, Partner, Foster + Partners and Bridget Rosewell, Chair, Volterra Consulting in support of the motion and Mike Redican, Managing Director, Debt Capital Markets, Global Markets Division, Deutsche Bank and Murad Qureshi AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, London Assembly, against the motion.
The economic, engineering and environmental viability of a Thames Hub Airport was discussed with an audience of ICE members, aviation, business and regeneration experts, LEP members in the Greater South East and policy makers.
The debate is available to view at www.cpdlectures.com and an audio recording with slides is available via Adobe Connect. You can also download a transcript of the proceedings. ICE will be responding to the government’s aviation consultation later in the year.