The airspace changes proposed by NATS would have a profound effect across much of East Anglia. They arise from the changes proposed in the flight paths and stacking holds not just for Stansted but also for Luton, Heathrow, Northolt and London City Airports. NATS claim that the reason for these changes is to improve the efficiency for airlines and the increase in air traffic.

SSE is opposed to the expansion of airport capacity on the grounds of unsustainability, and it is therefore opposed to any changes that are designed to accommodate unsustainable expansion.

SSE recognises that there would be winners and losers from different elements of the proposal. However, because of the great number of flights which they are designed to accommodate there would be far more losers overall.

This would be especially the case in rural East Anglia. This is because NATS defines noise impact by the number of people overflown rather than by the noise which they actually experience, with the result that tranquil rural areas would suffer disproportionately.

It is partly as a result of this that the proposed changes would increase the route mileage flown for aircraft using Stansted by some 2,500 miles every day. In effect the need to reduce fuel usage, carbon emissions and noise has been subordinated to NATS’ main objectives of accommodating more flights and improving the service for airlines.

Read SSE's response to the NATS consultation and view correspondence, press releases and presentations relating to the consultation and proposals via the links below. Some of the main maps relating to way in which the changes would affect Stansted flights are shown lower down this page, reproduced with the permission of NATS and Ordnance Survey, together with links to the NATS consultation website.