from experience of EGBB-EGNX positioning flight plans, the trip takes about 10-12 minutes
... and just to add a few miles more to the trip from EGNX to EGBB it positioned to land on R33.
AFAIK at 0601 Hrs on the day the weather at EGBB was clear and would not have been a factor to prevent a landing on R15....
An approach to R15 could / would have shortened the distance flying the damaged aircraft - a go around / overshoot would have taken them out over the fields with just one "A" road to worrry about ( A45 ), and not a housing estate !
Coconutty