Around 50 different plans, some very imaginative and speculative, have been put forward to the government’s Airports Commission looking at airport expansion in the South East, and the leading ideas will be chosen later in the year.
Pleiade Architects from Bristol have come to the conclusion that the best location for the airport would be on the same site, near Abingdon, where plans have already been put forward for a reservoir, and a Garden City.
Pleiade Architects have put some thought into rejigging some airport plans that were previously worked on in 2003.
It appears that not everybody has taken their work seriously. On twitter I have read …
“It should regenerate the local taxi trade”
“It would bring people to the Abingdon, but isn’t it a bit extreme!”
“A large price to pay for a Marcham bypass.”
We don’t need or want a new airport/ resevoir/ city in this area, it should remain as it is. I notice that it’s always companies from outside this area who want to build these things, I bet if it was where they live they’d turn into NIMBYs.
this would generate lots of jobs – and hopefully slash the price of houses too.
Whilst this would prove terminal for Abingdon…lets not runway with ourselves. I can’t really see this idea getting of the ground.
That’s a ‘game-changer’ for local gripes but a bit unimaginitive. They could have retained the huge reservoir plan to encourage a resurgence in the use of flying boats.
[Perhaps they could not devise an effective way to leak-proof the station]
And I bet they STILL won’t open the slip road at Drayton.
Should have opted for the Reservoir … at least low flying ducks are quiter than planes……
As Daniel says, let’s get real. This is almost certainly one of a number of speculative plans and who can blame an architect for trying, if they are successful, they stand to earn millions for almost no outlay. However, in the unlikely event that they are then the East-West alignment of the runways means it will be very noisy in Abingdon with 104 arrivals or departures a day. This will dramatically reduce the value of property in Abingdon and some residents may fall into negative equity.
And what happens when the terminal is too small and the only solution is to demolish Drayton.
I won’t lose any sleep over it as it is not going to happen as it fails the first test – room to expand.
Peter Del
Thames Water must be rubbing their hands with glee.
Why is that anytime there is a sign of progress in the UK there is always a bunch of idiots trying to stop the plans. Take the magnet in Oxford for example. A great place for future generations to learn and explore and the only real reason people are against it is because it’d obstruct the view of an old hill and mean a drab old building gets knocked down.
The future may be scary to these old sods but that shouldn’t get in the way of progress. Yes it can be difficult and painful along the way but in the end benefits.
As a property owner in abingdon i cannot think of anything better for the local economy and infrastructure. I actually believe to the contrary of you, peter del, as i think that (unless in the direct flight path) there will be an increase in property value as it will make our beautiful town easily accessible to the rest of the world bringing in a wealth of tourists. An upgrade to the rail network surrounding us will easily bring us into the commuter belt of London. And lets face it our town is beautiful who wouldn’t want to move to our area with being in close proximity to an airport and an easier commute to London.
I am not an idiot but I am an old sod and I moved to Abingdon because it is so much quieter than suburban London; also the air is considerably cleaner. For over ten years I lived under the flightpath of small jets – they were intrusive; large passenger jets every few minutes will be even more irritating.
However if they align the runways North-South, I might be the first to welcome the development.
Peter Del
Haven’t we been here before? Every time the reservoir plan raises its head it’s followed by the airport plan. Probably a ploy – which is the lesser of 2 evils?
Why are there always reservoirs around airports? Heathrow has loads…
Anyone who thinks having a major international airport on their doorstep is good thing should trying living anywhere near Heathrow. Only an idiot would think it would bring new jobs, it’ll just move them from Heathrow.
This “architect” can take his plan an shove it up his…
PS progress – can I come and knock your house down ? its blocking the view of the new bus depot ;O)
Mark – airport ponds collect the storm /de-icing etc water run-off I believe.
How’s this for a conspiracy theory…
Neither the reservoir or the airport will happen,they are a smoke screen to get us to accept for the fracking of shale gas…
I’ve always grumbled that we are equi-distant from 5 or 6 aitports but near none but this would be TOO close!
Exactly Peter Del I agree ….. I’m certainly no idiot as ‘progress’ quotes, but I don’t want any ruddy big airport near my house …… perhaps I should have pointed out on the map that my house would overlook it!!
An airport near an army base that flies helicopters? Nah…..
Do I continue to oppose every plan that threatens the town I live in …… housing estates, airports, reservoir (don’t mind this one), big link roads and bridges directly behind my house, yet more housing estates and even more housing blah blah ……. OR … do I sit back and let my own town be ruined by a bunch of out-of-towners who think they know how best my town should look and operate.
Progress if in moderation …… fine
They cant get Kidlington a local airport to pay its way so whose going to take this plan seriously? Like we need another non workable airport. If they were serious there’s a big runway off near Dolton Barracks that’s not being used very much. Except by Merlin’s and Shithooks. But I don’t believe anyone believes these plans will take off.
We already have a local airport, Oxford London! Airport, which, until last week, had passenger services to Dublin and Edinburgh; now there are none.
Perhaps it could be expanded?
Peter Del
I earlier posted the above in the wrong place!
Agree this is a smokescreen- shock tactics. I have to be careful what I says as I know the principal landowner (nice family) however I don’t believe for one minute this proposal will hold water. Or maybe it will, if you get my meaning…!
This is one of over 50 proposals submitted to the Commission. Anyone, including you or me, could have submitted a report suggesting an airport anywhere in the country we chose. This is an unsolicited proposal by a single architect in Bristol. Others include a maglev linking all the airports around London, or an airport in the Severn Estuary – it’s only our local press that have highlighted this one. They are all insignificant compared to the big proposals from Heathrow, Gatwick, etc. and Norman Foster’s Thames Estuary, which are all backed by companies with a huge amount of money and powerful lobbying capability. Heathrow must be spending millions already pushing plans for its third runway. Plus if the Abingdon proposal is so good, why aren’t the likes of Lord Foster or Terry Farrell working on this instead of their respective schemes? The Commission will produce a shortlist before the end of the year, and this won’t be on it. However, we are going to benefit from electrification of the GW main line and the Heathrow west rail link, which will make travel to the (almost inevitably expanding) airport easier.
What with one thing and another…linking various yet related threads about the area in question, perhaps the reservoir isn’t so bad afterall, as has been mooted already. I was never really aware of the reasons fore or against…but perhaps a large “leisure facility” that i assume a bik lake would bring, plus off shoot positives like flood defences, Drayton slip road opening etc etc…are all a better option to be proactively engaged with…rather than some planning inspector giving the thumbs up to houses
What with one thing and another…linking various yet related threads about the area in question, perhaps the reservoir isn’t so bad afterall, as has been mooted already. I was never really aware of the reasons for or against…but perhaps a large “leisure facility” that i assume a big lake would bring, plus off shoot positives like flood defences, Drayton slip road opening etc etc…are all a better option to be proactively engaged with…rather than some planning inspector giving the thumbs up to houses etc. The land is clearly earmarked for something…maybe we should try and just get what we can out of it?
I am open to be educated; what were the reasons against a reservoir…and in light of a potential flood of even less palatable options, do those “against” arguments still stack up?
I bet Didcot grabs it way from us!
David, they could replace the power station with an airport!
Why don’t they expand Oxford Airport?close the road.or put a tunnel in at the end of the runway,that way it could be extended and thus allow bigger aircraft to land,John.
The Airport , wiil bring costruction industry , B & B booking
Hotel bookings and much needed income into the area.
Followed by Jobs within the aiport , catering , transport,
baggage handlers , airport staff ie booking in cafes /bars
taxi and coach services , trains etc
this is a big plus to a much need income boost to Oxfordshire.
So much for the tories being the green party.I always that a something to use just to get ellected.