Bristol Airport expansion allowed by Planning Inspectorate, on appeal – called “devastating” by opponents
The 36-day public inquiry into Bristol Airport’s proposal to expand from 10 to 12 mppa, and add thousands more car parking spaces, took place in September and October 2021. Now the Planning Inspectorate have announced their decision to allow the appeal by the airport against refusal by North Somerset Council. This has been condemned as devastating by opponents and extremely disappointing by local councillors. North Somerset Council leader Don Davies said the decision “flies in the face of local democracy”. His authority had given sound planning grounds for refusing permission in February 2020, and warned that the detrimental effect of the airport expansion of the airport locally – as well as the wider climate impacts – outweighed the narrower benefits, which would be almost entirely the commercial interests of the owners, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.. The plan to expand the airport was opposed by thousands of residents, as well as Bristol City Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority. Don Davies said the council is seeing if there are any grounds for challenging the PI ruling.
.
Tweet
The Planning Inspectorate decision can be seen here
Bristol Airport expansion allowed on appeal and is branded “devastating” by opponents
2.2.2022 (Somerset Live)
Bristol Airport’s plans to expand its capacity to 12 million passengers a year has been allowed on appeal in a decision branded “devastating” by opponents.
North Somerset Council leader Don Davies expressed his “extreme disappointment” and said the decision after a 36-day inquiry “flies in the face of local democracy”.
He said the authority gave sound grounds for refusing permission in February 2020 and it is seeing if there are any grounds for challenging the Planning Inspectorate ruling.
The expansion allows the airport to increase its current capacity from 10 million to 12 million passengers per year, while adding thousands more parking spaces. It is yet to hit the current cap and pre-pandemic in 2019 fewer than 9 million passengers used the airport.
Bristol Airport has welcomed the decision as “excellent news for our region’s economy”.
Reacting to the news following an adjournment in the council’s executive meeting, Councillor Davies said: “The refusal was based on firm planning grounds and the belief the detrimental effect of the expansion of the airport on this area and the wider impacts on the environment outweighed the narrower benefits of airport expansion, which sit almost entirely in the commercial interests of the owners, a foreign pension fund.”
The airport is owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
Councillor Davies said the council had mounted a robust defence of the council’s position and it was “extremely disappointing” that the inspectors overturned its decision and allowed the airport to grow “even further with all the associated noise, environmental and health impacts that entails”.
The expansion was also opposed by Bristol City Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority.
“This simply flies in the face of local democracy and disregards the views of the local communities who fought equally hard to resist the expansion,” he said.
“It completely undermines our vision for a green North Somerset, our determination to tackle the climate emergency and the target we’ve set for the area to be carbon neutral by 2030.
“We face a climate emergency and to countenance yet more leisure flights that predominate from this airport is completely unacceptable from one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
“The airport’s important role in the region’s economy would have continued without expanding beyond its currently 10 million passengers a year limit.
“We’re studying the inspectors’ decision to see if there are any grounds to challenge and we’re working hard regardless to hold the airport to account to deliver their promises to reduce the carbon impact of the airport’s operations, especially around non-car travel to the airport and the greenwashing promises of the airline industry to decarbonise, which in reality will not happen in this decade.”
Councillor Ciaran Cronnelly voted to reject the application and tweeted that the decision “stings a lot”, adding: “The airport may chalk this up as a win, but for nearby residents this is a huge and impactful loss.”
Councillor Steve Bridger said he was “devastated”, adding: “We need to see change”.
Councillor Huw James said it was a “terrible day for our planet”, while Cllr Mike Bell branded it a “black day for action on our climate”.
Bristol Airport chief executive Dave Lees said: “Bristol Airport welcomes the decision of the Planning Inspectorate.
“The decision is excellent news for our region’s economy, allowing us to create thousands of new jobs in the years ahead and provide more choice for our customers, supporting inbound tourism, and reducing the millions of road journeys made to London airports each year.
“We will now push ahead with our multi-million-pound plans for net zero operations by 2030 and look forward to working with stakeholders and the community to deliver sustainable growth.”
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/bristol-airport-expansion-allowed-appeal-6593041
.
DECISION TO BLOCK BRISTOL AIRPORT EXPANSION OVERTURNED ON APPEAL
By ELLIE PIPE AND STEPHEN SUMNER, (B24/7)
Feb 2, 2022
Bristol Airport’s plans to expand its capacity to 12 million passengers a year have been allowed on appeal in a decision branded “shameful” by opponents.
North Somerset Council leader Don Davies expressed his “extreme disappointment” and said the decision after a 36-day inquiry “flies in the face of local democracy”.
He said the authority gave sound grounds for refusing permission in February 2020 and it is seeing if there are any grounds for challenging the Planning Inspectorate ruling.
The expansion allows the airport to increase its current capacity from 10 million to 12 million passengers per year while adding thousands more parking spaces. It is yet to hit the current cap and pre-pandemic in 2019 fewer than nine million passengers used the airport.
Reacting to the news Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN), a coalition formed to oppose the expansion plans, expressed outrage at the appeal decision.
Taking to Twitter, BAAN said: “Naturally we are all outraged by this news and will be posting an official response once the full decision has been analysed. Love to all who opposed this unwanted appeal. We will not give up!”
Responding to the news, Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party and a councillor for Clifton Down, said: “Allowing Bristol Airport to expand – more than doubling its capacity – is an outrageous decision that is totally incompatible with the climate emergency.
“Aviation, especially the frequent flights taken by a wealthy minority, is one of the fastest-growing sources of carbon emissions and causes incredible amounts of pollution both globally and locally in Bristol and North Somerset.
“The government’s intervention on the side of the airport goes against the wishes of local people, councils and elected representatives and contradicts the advice of their own Climate Change Committee. It risks setting the UK’s progress on climate change back by years.”
Davies gave his reaction following an adjournment in the council’s executive meeting, saying: “The refusal was based on firm planning grounds and the belief the detrimental effect of the expansion of the airport on this area and the wider impact on the impacts on the environment outweighed the narrower benefits of airport expansion, which sit almost entirely in the commercial interests of the owners, a foreign pension fund.” The airport is owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
Davies said the council had mounted a robust defence of the council’s position and it was “extremely disappointing” that the inspectors overturned its decision and allowed the airport to grow “even further with all the associated noise, environmental and health impacts that entails”.
The expansion was also opposed by Bristol City Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority.
“This simply flies in the face of local democracy and disregards the views of the local communities who fought equally hard to resist the expansion,” Davies added.
Joe Rayment, a former Labour councillor candidate, branded the appeal decision shameful. He said on Twitter that it was “a decision taken out of the hands of local people, with zero concern for the future of life on earth, but with major concern for short term economic benefits for the rich”.
North Somerset councillor Steve Bridger said he was “devastated”, adding: “We need to see change”.
Bristol Airport has been approached for comment but is yet to respond publicly to the news.
When it lodged the appeal it said: “The plans to expand capacity at the airport will offer passengers more routes and flights from the south west directly, create jobs, facilitate inward investment and inbound tourism, and support greener and more sustainable, regional economic growth.
“As the UK emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic it is essential that all regions of the country are given the opportunity to grow to their full potential and contribute to the national recovery effort.
“International trade and connectivity will become increasingly important as the UK completes its departure from the European Union – increasing aviation capacity is essential in delivering this goal.”
Stephen Sumner is a local democracy reporter for North Somerset
.
See earlier:
Bristol Airport awaits decision on expansion as inquiry draws to a close
The 36-day public inquiry into Bristol Airport’s proposal to expand from 10 to 12 mppa has ended, with a decision by the planning inspectors expected early next year. The inquiry is into the appeal by the airport of the rejection in February 2020, by North Somerset Council, of the growth plans; councillors refused the planning permission by 18 votes to seven. The authority’s barrister, Reuben Taylor, said allowing millions more passengers a year to fly from Bristol airport would affect thousands more local people with significant impacts, as well as a negative effect on climate change and the green belt. Mr Taylor said the scheme was unacceptable and unlawful and urged the inspectors to make it clear to airport operators that they do not have a licence to expand. He said the airport “is a company that puts the pursuit of profit before the wellbeing of the people its operations affect.” As well as being refused by North Somerset Council, the expansion has been opposed by Bristol City Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council, the West of England Combined Authority and numerous parish councils. There will be a decision letter eventually, after which there is no further right of appeal – other than a judicial review into the process.
Click here to view full story…
West of England leaders to formally oppose expansion of Bristol Airport
Leaders of the west region (Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) and North Somerset) are expected to change their minds, and instead of backing expansion of Bristol airport, now oppose it. Metro mayor Dan Norris is tabling a motion at a special meeting on 21st September of the West of England Combined Authority’s (Weca’s) joint committee, which he leads, that would scrap its previous endorsement of the plans. The motion could be carried by a majority vote of the 5 members, so the motion will be carried if Mr Norris (Bristol) and Cllrs Guy (B&NES) and Davies (North Somerset) support it as expected. Cllr Guy said: “Airport expansion is fundamentally incompatible with local councils’ commitment to tackling the climate emergency.” Mr Norris’s motion includes the statements that: There is a climate and biodiversity emergency … The West of England has ambition net zero targets for 2030 …The proposed expansion of Bristol Airport is one of the biggest carbon decisions in the region for the coming decade. And “The Joint Committee resolves: To oppose the latest plans to expand Bristol Airport.”
Click here to view full story…
Inspector at Bristol Airport expansion inquiry says views of the public will be properly taken into account
The public inquiry into the possible future expansion of Bristol airport started on 22nd July and is expected to last for 10 weeks. There are concerns, as at many inquiries, that the views of the public will not be taken into account, and not fully considered. Campaigners have warned that ignoring thousands of comments opposing the expansion of Bristol Airport, from residents and others, would damage public trust and threaten the integrity of local democracy. However, planning inspector Phillip Ware said: “We’ve read an enormous amount of written material that’s come in from people for and against. We’ve obviously got a lot of people appearing at the inquiry in person and virtually. It is absolutely not a tick-box exercise. We will be dealing with the public views in our decision whichever way the decision goes.” Green MP Caroline Lucas said: “Local democracy thoroughly considered the airport’s plans and decided against them and despite this the airport has now ignored these voices and called for this appeal. Now not only does that threaten to override local democracy, it also threatens the efforts that local communities and councils are trying to take to address the climate crisis themselves.”
Click here to view full story…
Start of Inquiry into refusal by North Somerset Council of Bristol Airport plans to expand by 2mppa
The public inquiry into Bristol Airport’s expansion proposal began on 20th July with the airport hoping to overturn North Somerset Council’s decision to refuse the expansion plans in February 2020. The inquiry is overseen by the Planning Inspectorate, and is scheduled to run until mid-October with three independent inspectors appointed to consider the airport’s appeal. The airport wants to be allowed to have an extra 2 million annual passengers, from 10 million to 12 million. In its recently-published Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP), the DfT committed itself to achieving net zero within the aviation sector by 2050. Allowing airport expansion scheme is not going to help with that – quite the reverse. The worry is that, though the various expansion schemes for Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Southampton – taken separately – look relatively small, collectively (and including Heathrow) the increase in carbon would be huge. The recent TDP does not follow the recommendation from its official advisors, the CCC, that any airport expansion should be offset by reducing flights elsewhere.