Airport Masterplan 2035 LOW RES

Masterplan 2035
9. Surface Access
Strategy
9.1 Newcastle Airport is an essential part of the North East’s
network of transport infrastructure, offering the national
and international connections needed by the region. It is
however both a generator of and destination for traffic for a
range of transport modes. Every trip to the Airport starts and
ends with a surface journey by private or public means, be
it a passenger, staff member, supplier or freight shipment,
or someone dropping off or picking up someone. These
journeys can be very local, from within the region, or long
distance from elsewhere in the country. Having reliable,
efficient, and safe access to the Airport is critical for the
current functioning of the Airport, but also supporting future
growth. Without investment in surface transport infrastructure
it will make other objectives for the Masterplan difficult to
fulfil and potentially the Airport’s forecast growth not being
achievable.
9.2 The Surface Access Strategy looks at the current and future
nature of travel to the Airport, opportunities for improvements,
and potential constraints to this, both on and near the Airport
site, and throughout our catchment. We are also committed
to improving the efficiency of travel on existing infrastructure,
in particular through embracing of innovative technology to
allow for ‘smart’ travel planning and journeys. The Surface
Access Strategy is however deliberately high level in order
to frame detailed initiatives at a later date, and so retain the
flexibility required to respond to change.
Policy Requirements
9.3 The Aviation Development Framework (2013) requires that
all airports have a Surface Access Strategy, which is also
supported by Transport for the North. The plans are intended
to show what development, alongside growth of an airport
itself, is needed so that people and goods can continue to get
to them easily and reliably. The strategies should -
l Show how the proportion of journeys to and from the
Airport by sustainable modes can be achieved and set
targets for this change;
l Demonstrate that the Airport’s growth can be achieved
without causing undue adverse local impacts and
congestion;
l Set out what investments and actions are needed in the
short and long term to achieve the strategy, both from
partners and the Airport.
9.4 The Strategy also helps to establish a plan for what may
be required as and when a planning application is required
to accommodate the Airport’s growth. Although we may
be ultimately responsible for some local infrastructure
improvements at that time, where the impact is predominantly
from increase in movements associated with the Airport
growth, it also establishes where the benefits are likely to be
shared and the costs burden shared or met by other means.
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