London City Airport has appealed against a decision by Boris Johnson to block a £220m expansion over fears it would create a "noise ghetto" for people living under the flight path.
The Mayor of London on March 26 ordered Newham council to reject the plans on the grounds of noise disturbance and because the airport was intended for business rather than leisure.
Take-offs and landings were expected to increase from 70,000 a year to 111,000 at the airport in Silvertown with passenger numbers doubling to six million by 2023.
This coupled with the airport's plans to use new technology to create a much narrower and concentrated flight corridor over Wanstead, Leytonstone and Leyton had prompted fears that noise could become an issue.
But today (May 19), London City Airport confirmed it was going to appeal to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark.
Jeremy Probart, communications director at London City Airport at Wanstead Library in November.
A spokesman said: “We think the Mayor’s direction is wrong and ignores the significant social and economic benefits that the airport’s development will bring, as well as the comprehensive package of measures that the airport has proposed to mitigate and control noise.
“It sends the wrong message about investment in east London and London generally, and seemingly disregards the 2,000 employment opportunities that the development programme will create, as well as the £1.5bn of annual economic impact that an expanded airport will deliver.”
HACAN East's John Stewart at Wanstead Library in November.
John Stewart, chair of campaign group HACAN East against the expansion, said he expected the decision to be made in five months time.
He said: “It is not surprising London City has appealed because they are very keen to get the space to allow bigger planes to use the airport.
“But we hope the Secretary of State turns down the appeal and backs Boris who stood up for residents whose lives have become blighted by noise from the airport.”
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