Development of airport infrastructure

The CAA has two separate but related roles on airspace.

First, the CAA makes decisions on proposals to change airspace design (CAP 1616).

Second, as required by the Secretary of State's 2023 Directions to the CAA (pursuant to section 66 of the Transport Act 2000), we have developed a strategy (the Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS) for the use of UK airspace for air navigation up to 2040.

Additionally, the CAA and the Department for Transport as Co-Sponsors have commissioned NATS En-route (NERL) to prepare a masterplan to implement the AMS (the Masterplan). Once accepted, the Masterplan will be adopted into the AMS. After this date, our airspace functions will be carried out in such a way as to give effect to the AMS (the strategy and plan) subject to our statutory functions and duties.

Based on the information available at the time of a DCO application the CAA will consider whether there are any insurmountable impediments to any related airspace change proposal being approved. In doing so, in determining whether there are any insurmountable impediments, the CAA will specifically consider, based on the information available, whether the associated ACP is compliant with the AMS and Masterplan.

The CAA is the economic regulator of airports which meet the market power test set out in section 6 of the Civil Aviation Act 2012. In 2014, we determined that Heathrow and Gatwick airports met the test. We regulate the maximum revenue per passenger that Heathrow and Gatwick may generate from airport charges. In setting that maximum we take account of the efficient level of costs that Heathrow and Gatwick may incur in operating and developing their airports, including, in relation to capacity expansion.

The CAA regulates some aspects of the safety of airport design against UK, European and international safety criteria. The final design, procedures and aerodrome safety cases will be subject to the approval by the CAA.

Airport operators are required by regulation to seek prior approval from the CAA of impending changes affecting their infrastructure or management system. While formal notification of changes will not take place until after the DCO application is submitted, the CAA will be expected, at the point of submission of a DCO application , to set out whether it sees any unmanageable impediments to the granting of such approval.

The CAA regulates the safety of Air Traffic Service Provision against UK, European and International safety criteria. The solution enabling service provision at an expanded Heathrow will require an integrated suite of safety assurance (based on safety cases) which will be subject to approval by the CAA.

While formal submission of the safety case will not take place until the physical infrastructure is in place, the CAA will be required to give an opinion on whether there are any insurmountable impediments to the granting of such approval.

A key pillar of the DCO process is the EIA; a statutory requirement for the proposed scheme. It is a systematic process to identify, predict and evaluate the environmental effects of a proposed project.

A DCO application must be accompanied by an Environmental Statement which details the anticipated significant environmental impacts of a proposed development. 'Environmental impacts' are interpreted very broadly by the relevant legislation and include topics such as: major accidents and disasters, health, economics and employment, noise and vibration, community, as well as the more traditional environmental topics (e.g. biodiversity and habitats).

The CAA, as a statutory consultee, will engage with applications carrying out consultations on matters which are directly relevant to our regulatory roles.