High buildings and airport safeguarding
Policy ENV 3 of the City of London
Unitary Development Plan 2002 deals with high buildings. The
explanatory text to this policy (paragraph 10.24) states that in
considering proposals for high buildings the City of London will,
inter alia, take account of the safety of aircraft operations.
When considering planning applications
for high buildings the City of London is required to consult
airport operators within a defined safeguarding area. The purpose
of the safeguarding is to allow airport operators to consider the
potential effect of proposals on their flight paths and
navigational systems.
Under the Town & Country Planning
(Safeguarded Aerodromes, Technical Sites and Military Explosives
Storage Areas) Direction 2002, the City of London is required to
consult London City Airport on all planning applications for
buildings, structures, erections or works over 90 metres in height
(above ground level) within the Airport's safeguarded area.
The safeguarded area covers all of the City east of Ordnance
Survey grid line easting 532000, as shown on the
map of the safeguarded
area (142kb).
(The Ordnance Survey map mentioned
above is provided by the City of London under licence from the
Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function as a
planning authority. Persons viewing this map data should contact
Ordnance Survey copyright for advice where they wish to license
Ordnance Survey map data for their own use.)
The City of London will also consult
London City Airport on other matters that may affect the operation
of the Airport in the safeguarded area. These include applications
for approval of reserved matters and unauthorised development above
90m, and developments that could affect air navigation, such as
lighting and wind turbines.
Although the 'Square
Mile' lies outside the safeguarding area for Heathrow Airport,
the British Airports Authority (BAA) as operator has asked the City
of London to consult both the BAA and London City Airport on all
planning applications for buildings over 150m in height above
ground level throughout the City.
The City of London will take account
of any views expressed by London City Airport and the BAA in
considering planning applications. In the event that the City of
London intends to grant planning permission contrary to the advice
of the consultees, it is required to notify the Civil Aviation
Authority of its intention.