Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports today announced details of how they will protect local homeowners and small businesses from the risk of blight if a second runway is built at either airport.

The possibility of a new runway being required in Scotland was highlighted in the Government’s 2003 White Paper “The Future of Air Transport.”

Ultimately the market, and passenger demand, will determine whether there is a need for a second runway, and where and when it should be built.

However, were a second runway to proceed, a number of properties at each airport would fall within the extended boundaries while others, while not within the new boundaries, would be newly exposed to medium to high levels of aircraft noise.

Following consultations with a wide range of residents, local authorities, community councils, MPs and MSPs, two voluntary schemes, to provide support to homeowners and small businesses and protect the value of their properties earlier than the law requires, have been published by Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports.

The Property Market Support Bond and the Home Owner Support Scheme are similar to schemes being introduced at other BAA airports at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. These schemes will come into effect at Glasgow and Edinburgh on 3 October 2005.

Property Market Support Bond
This voluntary scheme has been developed for the areas at each location where land would be required for a second runway if it were to be built.  The Bond guarantees that the airport would buy affected residential properties and small businesses at an unblighted market rate, if and when the airport announced that it intended to apply for planning permission for a new runway.  The Bond would be transferable to subsequent buyers.

Home Owner Support Scheme
This voluntary scheme covers an area which would be close to an expanded airport boundary and which would be exposed to medium-to-high levels of noise from aircraft using the new runway (66 decibels, averaged over a 16 hour day).  The scheme is to protect the value of eligible properties now and in the coming years.  If and when either Edinburgh or Glasgow Airport decides to apply for planning permission for a new runway, eligible property owners will be entitled to apply for an Option Agreement.  This would commit the airport to purchasing the affected property at an unblighted market price once planning permission has been obtained and the airport has announced its intention to begin construction.

Donal Dowds, managing director of BAA Scotland, which owns and operates both Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports, said: “The Government’s proposals on how to accommodate the growth of aviation in the UK contained in its White Paper, “The Future of Air Transport” did not specify where additional runway capacity would be required in Scotland and so land for expansion is being safeguarded at both.  In the light of that uncertainty, it is right that schemes to assist our neighbours to protect the value of their properties are available at both our airports. We believe these voluntary schemes are fair and responsible and will help to mitigate the impact of future expansion, wherever it occurs.”

Stephen Baxter, managing director of Glasgow Airport said: “We are well aware of the valuable support we receive from our communities as the airport continues to grow and it is right that we take our responsibilities to them very seriously.  Suggestions they have made have been incorporated in the final schemes.”

Richard Jeffrey, managing director of Edinburgh Airport, said: “The benefits of having a thriving international airport on the doorstep are well recognised by the communities which surround them.  But the negative impacts must also be addressed and I believe that these schemes go some way to mitigating these.”

Homeowners and small businesses believed to be eligible for the two schemes have been contacted directly.

The White Paper also asked airport operators to bring forward plans to address existing daytime noise issues. These will be published shortly.

Notes to Editors:
In December 2003 the UK Government published a White Paper, The Future of Air Transport. The White Paper found that “aviation makes a significant contribution to Scotland’s economy and social welfare.” It made a number of recommendations in respect of Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports.

At Edinburgh, it proposed that the option of a new close parallel runway, and the associated development of terminal and stand capacity needed to support its development, should be safeguarded. It also stated that land for terminal and apron development in advance of the construction of a new runway be safeguarded.

At Glasgow, the White Paper acknowledged that substantial development of terminal and airside facilities would be required, including doubling or more the present terminal capacity. It recommended that Renfrewshire Council, as planning authority, consider reserving further land for long-term development of the airport in a future review of their Local Plan.

The White Paper also recognised that the “prospect of airport development will in many cases have a wider impact on property values.” It therefore called on airport operators to bring forward non-statutory schemes to mitigate against the problem of ‘generalised blight.’ The two schemes announced today represent BAA Scotland’s efforts to voluntarily address the issue of blight, in line with the White Paper’s recommendations.

The White Paper also required specified airports to produce Master Plans setting out detailed proposals for future development up to 2015, and indicative plans for the period between 2016 – 2030. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports have published their outline Master Plans. The Final Master plan will be published at each airport by the end of 2005. Master Plans will be reviewed every five years.

Glasgow Airport’s outline Master Plan suggests:
• Up to 24 million passengers a year by 2030
• As many as 28,000 new jobs across Scotland
• New second international pier within 10 years to meet rising demand for overseas travel
• Provision for second runway

Edinburgh Airport’s outline Master Plan forecast:
• Up to 10,000 new jobs
• 26 million passengers by 2030
• Possibility of a new runway by 2020
• Multi-million pound BAA investment programme