Airport questions
COUNCILLOR Tudor Evans was the council leader at the time the 150-year peppercorn lease for Plymouth airport was signed in 2000 between Sutton Harbour Holdings (SHH)and the City Council. That lease contained the Armageddon clause and perhaps more pertinently, given the recent proposals for the airport land, the right for the council to receive receipts of 75 per cent of the uplift in value from any land sales by SHH.
In 2009 the city council granted planning permission for a number of airport improvement works that were to be carried out in two phases. These works and the consequent safeguarding of the future of the airport was to be achieved by granting residential consent for up to 375 homes and the subsequent sale of that land to developers. (Planning application ref: 08/01968/OUT). The officer's report of April 30, 2009, confirmed that if the development package did not progress the future of the airport was at stake. It made reference to the phased airport improvement works being 'guaranteed' by the s106 agreement.
In view of the above, it would be most instructive to learn from the council:
Whether they received any of the reported money received by Sutton Harbour for the sale of part of the airport land for residential development.
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Whether any of the legally required Phase 1 and Phase 2 airport improvement works set out in the s106 agreement attached to the s106 agreement have all been done? If not what has happened to the money allocated by Sutton Harbour for those works as that money could most usefully be spent by the council/Viable or another private sector operative in bringing the airport back to use.
Have all the terms of the s106 obligation been met?
When Sutton Harbour Holdings got planning permission they did not have to contribute towards the normal affordable homes requirement of 30 per cent (which equates to around 118 homes and a substantial multi-million pound cost saving) because of the cost of the airport enhancement works. The company argued that it would render the development unviable if affordable housing also had to be provided. What has happened to that money saved if it has not been used in providing the guaranteed airport enhancement works?
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Comments
by rationaldog
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 10:20AM
“Lee, for someone who used to be a Plymouth City Councillor, you are remarkably ill-informed.”
by fiest1406
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 10:11AM
“After Hillsborough one would have thought openness and accountability would be a by word for local democracy....One hopes the debate will answer such questions as S106, the Armageddon clause specifically how such a clause ever got into the contract and why; should SHH pull out a clause to return the Airport to the City was not entered into, the cost of the uplift ( Land Becomes more valuable when outline/ full planning permission is given) and to finish why the Airport is being removed from the AREA Action Plan which would give it protection from development. Planning could quite reasonably, on the back of an AAA, turn down any development therefore reducing the value of the land for any future operator of the Airport.”
by blackpot
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 9:24AM
“Irene...you may well be right,a shame the airport was managed in such a shambolic way,as it is eminently viable.”
by irene61
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 8:29AM
“I think it's safe to assume all these monies were used to deal with operating losses - without it the airport would have gone to the wall far earlier”
by leroc
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 8:02AM
“Well put - now we need some answers! We were told about the closure and development of the second runway was to be a life saver for the airport and we were shown the plans for the reconfiguration of the terminal building - so where has the money gone?
Answers please PCC / SHH!”