Farnborough Airport - Public Safety Zones
The Department for Transport has declared formal Public Safety Zones (PSZ) at Farnborough Airport.
The Safety Zones can be seen on Rushmoors Borough Council's website - Public Safety Zones at Farnborough Airport
What Are Public Safety Zones?
They are areas at either end of the runways at airports. In these areas, new development is controlled to restrict the number of people who may be exposed to risk if there is an aircraft accident on take-off or landing.
Does it mean that I should not live in a Public Safety Zone?
No, nothing changes simply because a Public Safety Zone has been declared. People can live or work normally in a Public Safety Zone. The reason behind the declared of Public Safety Zones is simply that there should be no increase in the number of people living, working or gathering in Public Safety Zones.
Who makes the decisions on any planning applications within a Public Safety Zone?
The Department for Transport declares Public Safety Zones but Hart District Council will make all planning decisions within the Public Safety Zones within Hart District. The Department for Transport has published policy guidance to help us to decide planning applications and consider road proposals affecting land within Public Safety Zones.
What building is allowed within a Public Safety Zone?
Generally there will not be any new or replacement development, or changes of use of existing buildings, within Public Safety Zones. No, new or replacement housing; mobile homes; caravan sites; other residential buildings; new or replacement non-residential development will be allowed. However, not all new development is prevented in a Public Safety Zone. There are many sorts of new development that are allowed including:
- domestic home extensions and 'granny annexes';
- extension or alteration to a non residential properties which would not increase the number of people working or gathering in that property or
- changes of use of a building or of land which would not increase the number of people living, working or gathering in or at the property or land above the current level
- Some other forms of development will also be allowed. Examples of these might include:
- long stay and staff car parking (where the minimum stay is expected to be more than six hours)
- open storage and certain types of warehouse development. 'Traditional' warehousing and storage use, in which a few people are likely to be present within a large site, is acceptable. But more intensive uses, such as distribution centres, sorting depots and retail warehouses, which would mean large numbers of people being on a site, should not be allowed.
- development of a kind likely to introduce very few or no people onto a site regularly. Examples might include unmanned structures, engineering operations, buildings housing plant or machinery, agricultural buildings and operations, buildings and small structures such as sheds and garages within private gardens, and buildings for storage purposes for existing industrial development;
- public open space which is not likely to attract large numbers of people is allowed but, new playgrounds should not be built in Public Safety Zones, new playing fields or sports grounds should also not be built in the Public Safety Zones;
- golf courses, but not clubhouses;
- and allotments.
Will special conditions be imposed upon any grants of planning permission?
Where planning permission is needed for new development in the Public Safety Zones we will consider (as appropriate) adding suitably-worded conditions to limit the number of people who might be present on site at any time.
Does the creation of a Public Safety Zone affect any past planning permissios?
No. Public Safety Zone policy has full effect only where any new development needs planning permission.Am I entitled to compensation because I now live in a Public Safety Zone?
No, you are not entitled to any compensation.
You may however, be entitled to compensation if you are refused planning permission solely on Public Safety Zone policy grounds but, this is not an automatic. You are only likely to get compensation if:
- a site or property is incapable of being put to any alternative beneficial use as a result of it being within a Public Safety Zone;
- planning conditions are imposed solely for Public Safety Zone policy reasons;
- planning permission is revoked or modified; or
- if the Council withdraws your normal rights to extend or alter your property without the need for planning permission and then refuses permission or grants it subject to conditions.
This is not related to any compensation that you may be entitled to under the Land Compensation Act 1973. In some instances compensation may be payable under this Act for any loss in land value due to noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, artificial lighting and the release of any solid or liquid substance onto your land. You must however, seek your own independent advice about this.
Where can I get more advice?
You can get further advice on Public Safety Zone from the Department for Transport, Great Minister House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR. Or visit the Department for Transport website at www.dft.gov.uk
Farnborough Aerodrome Consultative Committee Meeting Minutes
Minutes can be found on the Farnborough Aerodrome Consultative Committee Website
