Planning for Sustainable Growth
Airports are long-term businesses and, at MAG, comprehensive planning is key to ensuring the long-term sustainable growth of the business. We have strategic documents called Master Plans in place for all our airports that set out a vision for their long-term development. These plans have been subject to wide consultation as well as independent expert analysis, and they give practical effect to our vision for sustainable growth.
Proposals are aligned with UK Government policy as well as regional and local policies. We monitor our approach to ensure compliance with these, taking full account of, and seeking to balance, the differing views of policymakers, local communities and a broad range of other stakeholders.
Examples of how we consult include:
- regular liaison with over 50 local planning authorities on policy and schemes
- Parish Council liaison meetings
- Noise Action Plan public consultation
- participation in a range of regional and sub-regional bodies on planning, transport and economic growth
- technical liaison on planning, transport and environmental health
- regular outreach meetings with local communities.
Our Master Plans are kept under review at MAG so they stay in line with external drivers including changing policy frameworks, developments in the transport network, the climate change agenda, economic conditions and public opinion. These Master Plans were last issued in 2006/07 and will be reviewed in 2011/2012. We remain committed to improving our knowledge and understanding of all the social, environmental and economic impacts arising from our business.
Leading the Way in Sustainable Aviation Research
For many years, Manchester Airports Group has supported the Centre for Air Transport and the Environment at Manchester Metropolitan University. The Centre facilitates the sustainability of the aviation industry through research and knowledge transfer.