New photos show £150M Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans

New photos of Leeds Bradford Airport's £150M redesign and expansion have been released.
The Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plansThe Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans
The Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans

The overhaul is one step closer to being built after the plans were submitted to Leeds Council.

The new 'state of the art' terminal being built on the site will include three main floors and improved vehicle access and the new site will be closer to a proposed parkway rail station, announced by Leeds City Council last year.

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It is hoped that work would be able to start on construction of the site by the end of this year, and for the new terminal to be up and running by 2023.

The Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plansThe Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans
The Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans

The application states that the 'dated' current terminal is 'inefficient' and that LBA risks continuing to lose passengers to nearby Manchester Airport in an 'unsustainable' way unless the improvements are approved.

It says: "There are clear environmental benefits in improving the existing infrastructure at the Airport.

"The current terminal is aged and has been the subject of a series of extensions since it was first built in the 1960s, which has resulted in a dated, and inefficient operation, which compromises its environmental integrity.

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"Opportunities to improve the existing terminal’s environmental performance are limited.

The Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plansThe Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans
The Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans

"In contrast, replacing the terminal building with a new “state of the art” building, capable of meeting the needs of the modern day passenger and designed to an exemplary environmental standard, will create strong foundations for a highly sustainable future of the Airport. In summary, it is demonstrated in the application that there is a clear need to improve the Airport’s operations, both from an economic and environmental perspective."

The application states that the airport is expecting seven million passengers per year by 2030 - but that it wouldn't be possible without the overhaul.

It added: "Whilst the existing terminal, as well as the recently consented extension to it, could accommodate some of this growth, it is operationally compromised and would not be able to deliver the quality of passenger environment presented by the new terminal, nor would it provide the environment to attract new airlines.

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The planning application went on to state that the developments would add £400M a year to Leeds and the surrounding area, and 'support' nearly 9,000 jobs.

The Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plansThe Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans
The Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans

It said: "It is estimated that the proposals, which would enable the Airport to accommodate 7 million passengers per annum by 2030, will result in a growth in Region’s GVA of almost £400m. In the same period, it is estimated that the total number of jobs supported by the Airport in the City Region, will also grow by over 6,000 to 15,600 jobs (12,650 FTEs).

The threat of Manchester Airport was also put forward as part of the application, which said: "The Airport operates in a highly competitive environment, and despite being located within the fourth largest metropolitan area within the UK, it is only the tenth largest regional airport in the UK.

"Moreso...there is a major competitive effect exerted on the Leeds City Region by Manchester Airport, and as a consequence a significant flow of passengers from the Leeds City Region to Manchester Airport. It is demonstrated in the Planning Report that this level of passenger leakage is neither sustainable from an environmental perspective, nor an economic perspective."

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The applicants appeared to challenge Leeds Council to show that any issues raised by the development would outweigh its benefits, stating: "It is the Applicant’s case, supported by the evidence in the planning application that the proposals accord with the relevant policies of the Development Plan

"If, however, this is not accepted, any adverse impacts would have to be significant to demonstrably outweigh the benefits of this scheme, which, for the reasons outlined in this report, are substantial."

There was one objection included in the planning application, from a resident of Adel.

She said: "I live on the airport flight path and feel that the extended flying hours will be detrimental to my family and others in the same situation.

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"I also feel that extending the car parking will also increase road traffic on the area further inconveniencing local residents. We have no available public transport to get to the airport. I would like to suggest that one of our buses such as the numbers 1, 6 and 84 could be diverted or extended to the airport.

"These could also be used by people travelling from the city centre thereby reducing road traffic especially on Otley Road and Otley Old Road. It would cost nothing unlike the proposed rail line and connecting roads."

The application is due to be considered by Leeds Council.

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