Campaigners slam 'disappointing' report which backs multi-million pound Leeds Bradford Airport expansion

The Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) is calling on Leeds City Council's Plans Panel to reject plans for a new £150m terminal and runway at the site in Yeadon when a final decision is made next week.

It comes after a report by the council's planning officers published today recommended that the expansion should go ahead.

But GALBA has called the report "disappointing" and claims the proposed expansion will add to climate change due to the increased number of flights likely to take place.

Campaigners say the increased aircraft noise will disrupt the lives of residents living near the airport, who they say have already "lost sleep and ill health" due to the noise.

A final decision is set to be made on the future of the airport at a meeting next week, following more than a year of protests and controversy around the proposals.

A GALBA spokesperson said: "Over the past 12 months the planning department has shown itself to be impervious to the detailed and wide-ranging objections.

"Scientists at Leeds University have provided detailed evidence showing the devastating impact that expansion would have on the city's carbon reduction targets.

"It is disappointing that the officers seem to have taken at face value the promised economic benefits. There is robust evidence that the benefits of expansion have been significantly exaggerated.

"But the final decision rests with the elected councillors who sit on the Plans Panel.

"We are sure that they are aware of the catastrophic effects of climate change. We hope that they will have the courage to take responsibility for limiting emissions rather than simply hoping that someone else will do the job for them.

"This is a key moment: the panel will, through its decision, demonstrate whether the Council's declaration of a Climate Emergency is real or just empty words.

"We hope also that the elected representatives will do their duty and protect local people from the effects of increased aircraft noise. This is already the cause of lost sleep and ill health to thousands of local people. “

Council planning officers have set out their recommendation in a report to the authority’s City Plans Panel that suggests they approve the blueprints, albeit with 50 conditions on the developers.

The report states: “The local planning authority has had regard to the high number of comments received, both in favour and against the proposals, together with the delivery of policy and technical requirements.

“Central to the proposed scheme is the development of a well-designed, more efficient, carbon neutral replacement terminal building. This will not only be more operationally efficient but will provide a gateway to Leeds and beyond and will greatly improve the passenger and employee experience and provide higher quality welcome for travellers to the city and the region.

“Linked to this, the proposed development will bring associated economic benefits.

“The application also entails the reduction of the night time flying regime period and an increase in the number of flights as the airport looks to expand to (seven million passengers per annum) by 2030.

“The focus of this is for LBA to be on a competitive footing with other regional airports, whilst at the same time, seeking to minimise and to mitigate any adverse environmental impacts.”

“Extensive measures to improve public transport and accessibility to the airport are proposed which would reduce the proportion of travel by car, despite an overall increase in passenger numbers.”

Andy Clarke, Chairman of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “If approved, our proposals would deliver the UK’s most efficient terminal building, enabling us to become a carbon net zero airport, delivering a much-improved passenger experience and creating thousands of jobs, helping to support our region’s recovery.

“A sustainable future for LBA is at the heart of these proposals, running through everything from the design to the enhancements to surface access. Significant investment in bus services, including new routes, improved frequencies and 24hr timetables, and being physically located closer to the new railway station illustrate how we are actively encouraging more sustainable travel measures to reduce journeys by car and improve accessibility.

“We acknowledge the recommendation and look forward to hearing the committee’s final decision in due course.”

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