daa welcomes An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant permission to amend the physical layout of the new North Runway.
The new layout supersedes a runway design which was granted planning permission in 2007 and which was based on International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards at that time. Since then, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been established as the competent authority for aviation standards in Europe, and in 2017, EASA published amendments to the regulations governing infrastructure design. In order to comply with these amended regulations, daa sought planning permission to amend the layout of North Runway.
The main differences between the previous and newly approved layout, are the reduction in the number of Rapid Exit Taxiways from four to two and the change from paved to reinforced grass at the outer 7.5m runway shoulders. Additional amendments were also sought by daa in relation to the runway taxiway network and the co-ordination of Air Navigational Aids.
Importantly, these amendments will result in a reduction of approximately 115,000 square metres of paved area, consequently reducing the amount of building materials used to construct the runway and taxiway system. The composition of the landscaped grass areas, which are required to enhance the navigational equipment, will also reduce the amount of spoil material sent off-site for disposal.
Permission for the proposed amendments was granted by Fingal County Council. However, an appeal to the decision was lodged with An Bord Pleanála by the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA).
In deciding the changes to the runway layout, Dublin Airport’s North Runway team consulted with representatives of key airline customers and obtained their agreement to the planned amendments before submitting the planning application. Details of the proposed amendments were also shared with the Irish Aviation Authority and no non-compliance issues were raised. In addition, the proposed amendments are fully compliant with EASA regulations that govern the design of runway infrastructure.
An Bord Pleanála upheld the Fingal County Council planning permission and North Runway will now be delivered in accordance with the approved amended layout.
Once the current public health crisis abates, the role played by Dublin Airport in maintaining the supply chain, enabling connectivity for tourism and trade and acting as an economic engine for the country and for Fingal will be crucial to national recovery efforts. North Runway will be a key component in this regard.
