Bristol Airport to appeal against North Somerset Council's expansion refusal

The decision on the application will now move to a national level

Bookmark
Share
Comments

Hannah BakerSouth West Business Editor

11:40, 6 AUG 2020
Updated11:47, 6 AUG 2020

Bristol Airport (Image: James Beck/freelance)

Bristol Airport is planning to appeal against North Somerset Council’s decision to refuse its application for expansion.

The airport's proposals to increase capacity from 10 million passengers to 12 million a year, while adding thousands more parking spaces, were thrown out in February with council chiefs saying the environmental and societal costs outweighed the economic benefits.

The controversial decision to refuse the application went against advice from the council’s own planning officers, which meant the decision had to be ratified at a second meeting in March.

The decision on the application will now move to a national level and will be made by an independent planning inspector or, if the appeal is recovered, by the Government.

Bristol Airport claims its plans to expand would offer passengers more routes and flights from the South West, create jobs, facilitate inward investment and inbound tourism, and support greener and more sustainable, regional economic growth.

It said an expansion would "benefit" the South West’s economy and support the Government’s aim of ‘levelling-up’ economic growth across the ��Ƶ, as well as offering an opportunity to explore new flight routes in the Middle East and North America.

However, those campaigning against the proposals have claimed the expansion could be harmful to the environment, creating noise and air pollution and damaging the habitats of some wildlife.

CGI of Bristol Airport expansion (Image: Western Daily Press)

Dave Lees, chief executive of Bristol Airport said: “Expansion at Bristol Airport will spur growth in the South West and increase the rate at which jobsare created, replacing those lost at the airport during the current crisis.

"Although demand is temporarily suppressed, it is forecast to return to pre-pandemic levels in the coming years.

"The sector has been operating at close to capacity for some time and expansion at regional airports will allow growth to benefit all regions across the ��Ƶ.

"Approval of Bristol Airport’s planning application will give a much-needed boost to the economy in the West and South West of England.

“As the ��Ƶ completes its departure from the European Union, our international connectivity will become more important than ever. International trade and transport links with our European and global partners will be a huge focus over the coming years.

"Regional aviation will play a crucial role in the economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis and in delivering the ��Ƶ’s global ambitions.”

Deborah Fraser, CBI Director for South West and Regions, said: “Bristol Airport provides South West businesses with vital access to global growth and essential regional connectivity.

"Further infrastructure investment can also act as a catalyst for training, jobs and growth, especially given the impact of the current crisis within the aviation sector.

“Longer-term, supporting the airport’s ambitions to achieve carbon neutrality and become net-zero in the years ahead will help contribute to a sustainable recovery from the Covid crisis, helping the ��Ƶ build back better.”

Wrington ward member Councillor Steve Hogg, who led the opposition in February, gave five reasons for refusal, spanning from the impact on residents to harm to the green belt.

He said at the time: “These are well thought through, reasoned arguments that demonstrate why we should be refusing this application.”