Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
infrastructure growth. Another common constraint is a limit upon the noise that can
be generated over a given period of time, such that once the limit is reached, further
growth can only be ensured by action to encourage the use of increasingly quieter
aircraft.
Land-use planning
The implementation of land-use planning around airports can ensure that the mini-
mum number of people work or live in high-noise areas. Inadequate planning con-
trols in many countries have led to domestic properties still being built close to
airports. Even in the limited number of countries where adequate controls exist,
they are not always implemented with sufficient vigour for a variety of reasons - in
particular, because the growth of airports encourages urban development in its prox-
imity. Many companies wish to locate close to airports. Airports require ancillary
and support services and a workforce that is more conveniently provided locally. This
drives up potential land values and leads to political pressure to permit development.
Even where land-use planning laws exist, many airports are already surrounded
by urban conurbations close to their runways and arrival and departure routes, built
before their existence. Finally, the growth of aviation over the last 20 to 30 years has
been so rapid that even in countries where land-use planning controls have been in
place for a long time, housing developments that were approved as late as the 1960s
would be refused today.
There is an implicit tension between the needs of airports to surround themselves
with a land buffer to prevent noise disturbance and the resultant increase in land value
(particularly for some commercial developments), arising from that same proximity
to an aviation gateway.
Buy out, compensation and sound insulation
A side effect of the disturbance caused by aircraft noise is a generally held belief that
aircraft noise adversely affects values of properties in close proximity to airports and
flight paths. A number of studies compare the value of properties affected by aircraft
noise with similar properties in non-noise-affected areas (Feitelson et al, 1998; Tomkins
et al, 1998). In recent years, airports have adopted a variety of measures to address
this issue and enable continued growth, at the same time negating growing disquiet
amongst noise-affected airport communities.
Evidence from the US suggests that land and property acquisition can be a suc-
cessful though expensive means of reducing opposition to airport noise. Airport pro-
prietors may acquire land surrounding an airport or an interest in that land through
voluntary sales or compulsory purchase. After it has acquired the land, the airport
will often use the property for airport-related uses, such as hotels and restaurants, or
suitable non-airport-related functions (Falzone, 1999). Such land acquisition pro-
grammes often include measures for the relocation of residents and businesses.
While there is evidence that aircraft noise adversely affects property values,
Tomkins et al (1998) suggest that noise nuisance is not the sole determining factor.
Other factors that impact negatively and positively upon property values include
location, local amenities, transport links and crime.
