Biggin Hill Airport hotel plan rejected

Date added: 7 December, 2007

Biggin Hill Airport hotel plan rejected

06.12.07

(6.12.2007   UK Airport News)

Campaigners have called a government rejection of the building of a new hotel
at Biggin Hill   Airport a ‘victory for common sense’. Plans for the 100-bed hotel
were rejected by the two secretaries of state on Monday, after the airport appealed
against an earlier refusal from the council.

A spokesman for airport campaigners Flightpath said that the attempt to build
the hotel was a step away from having an international airport in the middle of
Biggin Hill. He added: ‘This is a significant victory for common sense. Over the
years the residents have made it abundantly clear that they do not want expansion
at the airport. This is a second rejection and we call upon the airport to drop
its plans and stop wasting council tax-payers’ money.’

Bromley council, which granted a lease to Biggin Hill Airport Limited to run
the airport, opposed the hotel project on the basis that it was of poor design.
The planning inspector hearing the airport’s appeal against the decision agreed
with the council.

Flight Path objected on the basis that business from the airport alone would
not make the hotel viable and that would contravene government planning guidance
which says that airport hotels must be ‘explicitly justified’ as being needed
for the airport’s core business.

The appeal inspector’s recommendation to reject the proposal was called in by
the Transport Minister and the Communities Minister and both endorsed it. The
airport released a statement saying that they were disappointed at the secretary
of state’s decision.

http://www.uk-airport-news.info/biggin-hill-airport-news-061207.htm

Posted: Friday, December 7th, 2007. Filed in News about Airports.