Campaigners remain confident after Southampton Airport legal challenge refused
Campaigners against Southampton Airport’s runway extension say they remain confident after a legal challenge was refused. GOESA Ltd, a company set up by those opposed to Southampton Airport’s runway extension, submitted an application to the High Court for a judicial review in July this year. This came after Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC) granted planning permission for the airport extension which proved controversial during the consultation process. An online fundraising page was set up to fund the review which raised over £60,000, but now, EBC has said that the High Court has refused the review of planning permission. Despite this though, GOESA Ltd has said that this is “not the end” and say that there are still chances to appeal this. They have to decide within the next seven days, whether they apply to have the matter renewed in open court. They are taking legal advice and that will be decided in the next few days. There is another stage in the appeal process. A second application for a judicial review was also made by Bournemouth Airport Ltd, but this has also been refused.
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Campaigners remain confident after Southampton Airport legal challenge refused
‘It’s not the end’ – Campaigners remain confident after Airport legal challenge refused
GOESA Ltd, a company set up by those opposed to Southampton Airport’s runway extension, submitted an application to the High Court for a judicial review in July this year.
This came after Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC) granted planning permission for the airport extension which proved controversial during the consultation process.
An online fundraising page was set up to fund the review which raised over £60,000, but now, EBC has said that the High Court has refused the review of planning permission.
Despite this though, GOESA Ltd has said that this is “not the end” and say that there are still chances to appeal this.
John Lauwerys of GOESA Ltd told the Echo: “We’ve got to decide within the next seven days, whether we apply to have the matter renewed in open court.
“We’re taking legal advice and that process will be decided very quickly in the next few days.
“If the matter is renewed in open court it can lead to approval being given to hear a judicial review so it’s premature to say the matter has been refused, it has been refused at the first stage, but there is a further stage before the matter is decided.
“If the decision that we apply to have the decision renewed, then early next week that will go to the next stage in the process.
“It’s not the end of the day. It still has to be finalised and we remain confident that we have a very good case to challenge the planning consent.”
Richard Mould-Ryan, speaking on behalf of Airport Expansion Opposition (AXO) Southampton added: “GOESA has told its supporters that it is seeking the advice of its legal team, and the matter is far from resolved.
“We remain confident about the challenge to the planning permission granted by Eastleigh Borough Council for the runway extension, and hope there will be more news early next week.”
A second application for a judicial review was also made by Bournemouth International Airport Ltd, but this has also been refused.
Speaking after the announcement, Southampton Airport said it welcomed the news and is now waiting to see how the situation develops.
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Legal challenge puts Southampton Airport expansion on ice
August 11th 2021
Southampton Airport’s runway expansion plans have been put on ice after a legal challenge to the proposals has been given a hearing at the High Court. Campaign group GEOSA Ltd has been granted a judicial review into the decision by Eastleigh Borough Council to approve the runway extension in April. The Southampton Airport plans would see a 164m runway extension built as well as a new 600-space car park and the erection of a blast screen to the north of the new extension. The council approved the plans by 22 votes to 13. Campaigners have long called for the runway extension decision to be independently reviewed, and claim that increased aircraft noise would impact people living outside the Eastleigh village. Opponents of Southampton Airport expansion have instructed a legal team led by Leigh Day and David Wolfe QC to pursue the case and have crowdfunded £20,000 and have received £35,000 in direct donations to help pay for the judicial review.
Southampton legal challenge against airport decision by Eastleigh Borough Council
The local campaign against the expansion of Southampton airport, AXO, has now decided to make a legal challenge against Eastleigh Borough Council, and their decision to allow extension of the runway. That extension would have the effect of increasing the number of flights using the airport, and allow flights to more distant destinations – increasing the overall carbon emissions. Decisions such as these, resulting in more climate heating, need full scrutiny and that can now only happen by Judicial Review. The opponents of Southampton Airport expansion have instructed a legal team led by Leigh Day and David Wolfe QC to pursue the case, and are launching a public appeal for money to help finance the action. AXO believe strongly that the council’s decision was wrong both in the way it was taken and the arguments to justify it. The airport has greatly overstated the economic benefits of expansion, which will adversely affect the quality of lives of around 46,000 residents, whilst hugely underplaying the environmental impact. Hence they are calling for the decision to undergo independent scrutiny. There is a crowdfunder, to raise £10,000, to help pay the legal costs.
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Eastleigh BC confirms its decision to allow Southampton airport 164 metre runway extension
Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC) has confirmed, on 3rd June, its decision to permit Southampton airport’s 164 metre runway extension. The PCU (Planning Casework Unit at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government) had an informal agreement with Eastleigh to hold off on the decision while the Sec of State, Robert Jenrick, considered the call in request. The PCU said the planning permission would not be issued until the S106 Legal Agreement was completed. On 14 May EBC told the PCU that they had completed the S106 and would grant permission at the end of May unless they heard back to the contrary, from the PCU … which they didn’t. It is now too late for the application to be called in. Extinction Rebellion Southampton said the Secretary of State must be held to account for his failure to act on climate grounds. Work on the runway extension could start later this summer. Campaigners have not confirmed whether they will challenge the final decision.
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