Carlisle Airport

Some key information:
 
        Also NEWS about Carlisle airport  


Airport ownership

The sale of Stobart Air and Carlisle Lake District Airport was announced on 20th April 2021.  Ettyl Ltd, which is based on the Isle of Man, has agreed a deal subject to bank consent, the firm said.

An Ettyl spokesman said the “intention is to retain all staff currently employed by” both the airline and airport and to keep “business as usual”.  Both the airline and airport were owned by Esken, formerly the Stobart Group.

In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, Esken announced it had sold its shares in the airline to Ettyl for £2 “plus the value of any cash on the balance sheet payable at completion” along with a further £7.5m if “certain trigger events occur” before July 2024.

From May 2009, the airport was owned by the Esken on a 150-year lease, expiring 2151. Between December 2014 and September 2015, a £12 million freight distribution centre was built on the south-eastern corner of the site, which is now leased to Eddie Stobart Logistics. Stobart Group also intended to build a further warehousing and distribution hub from 2017 on land adjacent to the freight distribution centre. After financial assistance from the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, there were plans for passenger flights from June 2018 “to major tourism and business hubs including London, Dublin and Belfast” but the target date was postponed.[4] On 4 July 2019 the new terminal was officially opened, and the first scheduled passenger flights since 1993 were commenced by Loganair to London Southend, Belfast City and Dublin airports.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlisle_Lake_District_Airport


 

Carlisle airport application hopes for 200,000 passengers by 2025 and 5 return flights per day. Given permission in early August 2012, with many conditions attached.

(See Carlisle Airport News )   

Owners of Carlisle airport, Stobart Group, have put in a planning application
to resurface the runway and build a 394,000sq ft air-freight distribution centre.
It claims this would create the equivalent of 156 full-time jobs and safeguard
73 existing jobs. There would be flights to Southend. The application warns that
the airport is not viable without redevelopment. Stobart say that if they don’t
get their application, they will move outside Cumbria.   Click here to view full story…

AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PLANS
 
Now refused by the High Court     19.5.2010
 
Approved by Carlisle City Council on  19th December 2008   New Airport Plan October 08
Application Ref: 08/1052   (Carlisle City Council)   –

for a proposed freight storage and distribution facility     “Granted Subject to Legal Agreement”

Application for:

Erection Of A Freight Storage And Distribution Facility Including Chilled Cross
Dock Facility (Use Class B8) With Associated Offices (Use Class B1), Gatehouse/Office/
Canteen/Staff Welfare Facilities, Landscaping, New Vehicular Access, Car And Lorry
Parking And Other Infrastructure Works.

Stobart and the City Council  said then that  though the airport planned toresurface the runway, do a new passenger terminal and increase   flights etc,
they did not need planning permission for this, so it  was not in  the application
for the freight storage and distribution facility.   However, for the planned expansion
of flights and  terminal to go ahead they needed to move their freight distribution
service there.   Stobart Air  said they would carry out the following, as Section
106 work:

■   repair and refurbish the existing runway to get the weight limit removed.

■  retain the existing Air Traffic Control Tower.

■  create a small modern passenger terminal in an existing airside building.

Airport Plan Drawing Oct 08

Economic Impact Assessment Oct 08

–  News and Star Article 21 Oct 08

 
 

Carlisle Airport – some key information:

 
Airport Owner:
 
11.3.2008     “Stobart set to take over airport”
“Transport giant Eddie Stobart is poised to take over Carlisle Airport as part of a series of deals worth £97.5m.
Stobart Group, owners of the legendary Cumbrian company, is also set to buy city-based
civil engineering firm WA Developments and one of its haulage rivals.”
Before that, the airport was owned by WA Developments International.
“In May 2006, Haughey Airports was acquired by the WA Developments, owned by Andrew Tinkler and William Stobart. Eddie Stobart Ltd., the UK’s largest haulage contractor is also part of the WA Developments group,
and future plans include locating a joint head quarters building on the site,
as well as transport and distribution facilities.”
Airport Operator:
Stobart Air Limited,Carlisle Lake District Airport,Carlisle,Cumbria CA6 4NW.                                 Tel 01228 573 641           www.carlisleairport.co.uk
 Airport website:                           www.carlisleairport.co.uk
Airport Master Plan:
There is no master plan, but there is a   ‘brochure’   for ” Carlise Lake District
Airport”
Carlisle Lake District Airport Brochure
 
Key details of the brochure:
A  lot of new buildings for Eddie Stobart, and for WA Developments.
Lots of airfreight handling and  distribution facilities
There is not a large enough local population to generate many  passenger flights,
and large numbers are not anticipated.
A lot of growth of air freight is anticipated.

Airport Consultative Committee:       None


 

CAA figures:       CAA aviation statistics
Terminal Passengers:         CAA – Terminal Passengers
– too few to be listed on  CAA data
Air Traffic Movements
CAA ATM statistics 2008 and 2009 and 2012   – too few to be listed
2007        –     138 commercial air transport movements

Air Freight (tonnes):    too few to be listed by the CAA

2000       1
1996       2
.

Airport Contact Details:Stobart Air LtdCarlisle Airport

Carlisle

Cumbria CA6 4NW               Tel: +44 (0) 1228 573641Email: enquiries@carlisleairport.co.uk

Map:       Multimap of CA6 4NW
Local community group:
South Lakeland Action  on Climate Change   (SLACC)
http://www.slacc.org.uk
 
Runway length:       6026 feet   (1836 metres)
Wikipedia on Carlisle airport
Some recent news about Carlisle Airport:
News stories about the airport can be found at the UK Airport News website :

Yet another planning application:

Carlisle airport application hopes for 200,000 passengers by 2025 and 5 return flights per day

Date Added: 3rd January 2011        

Owners of Carlisle airport, Stobart Group, have put in a planning application
to resurface the runway and build a 394,000sq ft air-freight distribution centre.
It claims this would create the equivalent of 156 full-time jobs and safeguard
73 existing jobs. There would be flights to Southend. The application warns that
the airport is not viable without redevelopment. Stobart say that if they don’t
get their application, they will move outside Cumbria. (News & Star)     Click here to view full story…

Farmer wins appeal to stop Carlisle Airport revamp

19th May 2010      

A Cumbrian farmer has won his legal fight to overturn planning approval for the
£25 million redevelopment of Carlisle Airport. The Court of Appeal has quashed
a decision by Carlisle City Council to allow Stobart Air to build a haulage depot
and create a passenger and freight hub. The city council should have insisted
on a full assessment of the environmental impact. Stobart was granted permission
in December 2009 and is now looking at sites outside Cumbria.   Click here to view full story…

The case of Mr Gordon Brown was heard at the High Court in London, on  21st April 2010.
 

Carlisle Airport land wrangle leads to 45 job cuts at Stobart Group

29th  January 2010        
A protracted dispute over grazing land at Carlisle Airport which has delayed
the start of its £25 million redevelopment has apparently led to 45 workers being
laid off. It is delayed because 4 farmers with grazing rights – including two
whose leases cover land earmarked for a new warehouse and offices – are refusing
to surrender the land, though offered “a six-figure sum” and alternative grazing
land. They refuse to give up the over 200 acres.        (Cumberland News)       Click here to view full story…
 
Farmers’ legal challenges will delay Carlisle Airport revamp

19th December 2009        

There are now  4 farmers with grazing rights on land earmarked for warehousing
and offices who have refused to give up those rights, and one of  them has been
granted leave to apply for a judicial review of Carlisle City Council’s decision
to give planning permission to the airport in 2008.     The application will be
heard  in the Court of Appeal in the spring. Tinkler said  he was frustrated by
the farmers who had refused Stobart’s offer to surrender their grazing rights.   Click here to view full story…

 

 
 
 
Appeal court gives farmer consent to continue Carlisle airport legal fight

15th December 2009        

Redevelopment of Carlisle Airport is threatened by a legal challenge from an
Irthington farmer. Gordon Brown has been given leave to apply for a judicial review
of Carlisle City Council’s decision in 2008 to grant planning consent for warehousing
and offices. The High Court twice rejected his application, most recently in October.
But that ruling has now been overturned by the Court of Appeal in London.  Click here to view full story…

 

 
Campaigners refused leave to go for judicial review
27.10.2009         The Judge at a hearing at the High Court in London refused campaigners
leave to have a judicial review of the Carlisle City Council decision, to allow
airport expansion.   Campaigners are now seeking leave to take the case to the
court of appeal.
 
 

Farmer taking Carlisle Airport fight to appeal court

27th October 2009      

A farmer hoping to scupper plans for a passenger airport on the edge of Carlisle
is to take his fight to the Court of Appeal. Mr Brown objected to the city council’s
2008 decision to grant planning consent to Stobart Group for warehousing and offices,
as there had been no adequate environmental impact assessment, but the case thrown
out by a High Court judge. Now, Mr Brown intends to seek leave to take the case
to the court of appeal. (News & Star)
Click here to view full story…

Judge defers ruling on Carlisle man’s airport challenge

29th September 2009        
A Carlisle man who is fighting plans for redevelopment of the airport took his
challenge to the scheme to the High Court. Thomas Gordon Brown, of Irthington,
objects to the granting of planning permission for a freight storage and distribution
facility at the Crosby-on-Eden airfield. The site’s owner, Stobart Air Ltd, secured
permission earlier this year, but opponents believe the Carlisle City Council
decision was “unlawful” and should be overturned.           Click here to view full story…

 

Farmer’s legal challenge to Carlisle airport heard today

28th September 2009      

A legal challenge to the redevelopment of Carlisle Airport is due to be heard
in the High Court. Gordon Brown, who farms at Lane End opposite the Crosby-on-Eden
airfield, is seeking a judicial review of Carlisle City Council’s decision to
grant planning permission. A judge sitting in Newcastle threw out his original
review application in July. But Mr Brown has pursued the case, th is time at the
Royal Courts of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division. (News & Star)       Click here to view full story…

Planning permission granted for Carlisle Airport scheme

1.04.09
The £25m plans to redevelop Carlisle Airport have cleared another hurdle after
planning consent has been officially released by Carlisle City Council. This means
the Stobart Group, the company behind the scheme, can now exercise its option
to buy the airfield and start the development work. Due diligence is currently
being carried out before the deal is signed.   Release of planning permission was delayed until the council received a legally-binding
document from Stobart promising to improve the runway and passenger terminal at
the site. That was required in order to avoid the project becoming a purely commercial
move to relocate the Eddie Stobart haulage company at the site, as some local
campaigners had suggested would happen.     Under the redevelopment plan, passengers could soon board a plane at Carlisle
and be in the centre of London in under one-and-a-half hours. Flights would operate
between Carlisle and Southend Airport, which Stobart also owns. A railway station
will be built soon at Southend, which will see trains running on a high-speed
link to the site of the Olympics and London’s Liverpool Street station.     UK Airport News
Councillors could face probe over Carlisle Airport plan
3.4.2009      Wetheral councillor Barry Earp and Stanwix Rural representative Marilyn
Bowman have been referred to the Standards Board for England after a complaint
by Irthington resident, and airport objector, Peter Elliott.  He alleges the pair
disclosed confidential information, improperly used the council’s email system
and “possibly acted contrary to the Money Laundering Regulations Act 2007”, during
the Stobart Group’s application to develop the airfield and build a transport
distribution centre there.   (Whitehaven News)     Click here to view full story …

Deal for Carlisle Airport could be sealed within days

17th February 2009        

The Stobart Group is ready to complete the deal to buy Carlisle Airport and begin
development in the next few days. It currently owns an option to buy the airfield
which it will exercise as soon as planning consent is officially released. Stobart
are finalising a legally binding agreement demanded by Carlisle City Council that
the firm will improve the runway and passenger terminal. The document should be
submitted this week. (News & Star)     Click here to view full story…

Stobart views straitened times as opportunity

3rd January 2009        

Stobart Group is one of the few businesses that views the current economic uncertainty
as an opportunity rather than a threat to its future. Much of its business is
in transporting food and “people still need to eat”. In December, Stobart bought
Southend. Tinkler sees the area as strategically important, with the 2012 Olympics
coming up. Stbart has an option, expiring this month, to buy Carlisle airport
for about £10m – an announcement is expected shortly. (FT)       Click here to view full story…

Carlisle airport plan “hailed as part of area’s economic future”

 2nd January 2009        

An odd local story, suggesting development of Carlisle airport by the Stobart
group will “safeguard 565 jobs and create 100 more” and this “has been recognised
as a major building block in Cumbria’s economic future.” It also somehow manages
to link growth of the airport with “aims to transform West Cumbria into a major
low-carbon energy production hub for the UK.” (Times and Star)           Click here to view full story…

Airport shrugs off Carlisle revival plan

24th December 2008          

Blackpool Airport says plans to increase passenger numbers will not be affected
by proposals to develop Carlisle Airport. Carlisle City Council’s planning committee
has approved a £19m scheme by Stobart, which includes encouraging more passengers.
A spokeswoman for Blackpool Airport said the growth at Carlisle would not have
an negative impact on the Squires Gate hub. (Gazette)         Click here to view full story…

Carlisle airport plan gets go-ahead

20th December 2008        

Carlisle City Council yesterday gave planning permission to allow Eddie Stobart
and Stobart Rail to move their operations at Kingstown to the airfield at Crosby-on-Eden.
As a condition, Andrew Tinkler will sign a binding agreement to upgrade the runway
and passenger terminal, so scheduled passenger flights could start next year.
Objectors have vowed to fight on and may apply for a judicial review. Tinkler
faces negotiations with a tenant farmer. (News & Star).       Click here to view full story…

Carlisle Airport expansion plan backed by Cumbria council

27th November 2008        

Businessman Andrew Tinkler’s plans for Carlisle Airport have received a boost
from Cumbria County Council. Carlisle City Council will decide next month if the
£20m scheme for an Eddie Stobart HQ and warehousing should get planning consent.
But the county council has to be consulted first – its development control committee
voted 11-0 in favour. However, they say that Stobart Air, should sign a binding
agreement to upgrade the runway and terminal.   (News & Star)       Click here to view full story…

Carlisle Airport plan would create ‘industrial estate’ in the country

30.10.08   (UK Airport News)         Opponents of a £25 million plan to redevelop Carlisle Airport say the proposals could create an ‘industrial estate’ in open countryside, the
Cumberland News reports.

Airport owner Andrew Tinkler last week tabled a new planning application for
the Crosby-on-Eden airfield. It shows a 371,000sq ft warehouse for road haulier
Eddie Stobart, a four-storey office block shared by Eddie Stobart and Stobart
Rail, a chilled dock, gatehouse, canteen and parking for 339 cars and 143 lorries.

The scheme is smaller than earlier plans, which Mr Tinkler dropped after they
were called in for a public inquiry. But the Carlisle Airport Residents’ Forum
said: ‘If this goes ahead, it will set a precedent and we will end up with an
industrial estate.’

‘Last time the application for a corporate HQ was tied in with the extension
of the airport and the benefits that would bring. This time it is more clear cut.
All this application is for, is for the placement of a corporate HQ and haulage
depot. It has no relationship to the airport and could be built on a site anywhere
in Carlisle with easier access to the motorway. Although the shed would be smaller,
it would still be two-thirds the size of the Lanes shopping centre.’

Andrew Tinkler submits new plans for Carlisle Airport

15th October 2008                     Fresh proposals to redevelop Carlisle Airport have been tabled with Carlisle
City Council. Andrew Tinkler shelved an earlier £35m scheme for a new runway,
hangars, terminal, offices and warehousing after it was called in for a public
inquiry. His latest proposals are less ambitious. The main building will be 30%
smaller and there are no plans to replace the runway, which will be improved.
There should be no need to fell trees. (News & Star)Click here to view full story…
Stobart and council agree airport deal    
11th April 2008         (Cumbria News & Star) Click here to view full story…

Carlisle airport – Stobart and council edge towards city airport deal     8th April 2008         (Cumbria News & Star)       Click here to view full story…

5.1.2008           MP backs Carlisle Airport plans
 
Previous Planning application for  expansion – largely for freight:
 
see     Carlisle aiport expansion plans submitted   (16th October 2007)
The application details can be found on the Carlisle City Council website, at:

The application details   (07/1127     Full planning application) say:

“Construction of replacement runway with associated instrument landing equipment
and reconfigured taxiways and hard standing; new development to the south of the
runway including warehousing and distribution facilities, new passenger terminal,
offices, hangars, new air traffic control centre, aircraft apron and car parking,
with new road junction and access from the A689, and other associated infrastructure
and facilities, including aviation fuel storage, local refuelling facility for
the distribution operations and improved drainage.”

£25m development plans for Carlisle Airport submitted

17.10.07       http://www.uk-airport-news.info/carlisle-airport-news-171007.htm

Carlisle Airport is poised for take after it submitted plans to Carlisle City Council for a £25m
redevelopment of the airfield. Bosses at the airport are confident that twice-daily
flights to Stansted or Luton will be a reality within two years, with other destinations set to follow soon after.

The plans are for a new runway and a giant building – seven times the size of
a large supermarket – to house a passenger terminal, air traffic control centre,
hangars and warehousing. It would be built to the south of the existing runway
and airport buildings, with access from the A689.

Facilities at the passenger terminal will include a café / bar, car-hire desk
and shop. Other proposals include short and long-stay car parks and equipment
to allow planes to land in bad weather.

Airport director Richard Gordon said: ‘There is scope at Carlisle Airport and
airlines recognise this. We have met two airlines and have a dialogue with another
three. We should be looking at commercial passenger flights in 2009.’ He added
that the development to double the airport’s workforce to 50, rising to 65 within
five years.

Mr Gordon added: ‘Our runway dates from 1941, is shot to hell and carries a weight
restriction. If we rebuilt it we’d have to close the airport and that would affect the flying
schools. So the plan is to have a new runway of roughly the same length, 1,830
metres, on a slightly different alignment.’

‘The new runway will take 30-seat turbo-prop aircraft but not the Boeing 737s
operated by Ryanair or easyJet. We don’t want them anyway because there aren’t
people in the airport’s catchment area to fill them.’

Direct flights to Heathrow and Gatwick have been ruled out because of the cost
and scarcity of landing slots there. But Mr Gordon said flights to Paris or Amsterdam,
which are hub airports with international connections, were a strong possibility.
Dublin has also emerged from market research as a likely destination.

Under the plans, the airport will be renamed as Carlisle Lake District Airport
in an attempt to cash in on tourism traffic. Airport owner, Andrew Tinkler, also
wants to move his haulage firm Eddie Stobart and engineering company WA Developments
to the site, with plans to develop an air freight terminal.

City council planning officers are now studying the airport plans, which include
a detailed environmental impact assessment. Once they are satisfied everything
is in order, the plans will be available at Carlisle Civic Centre for the general
public to inspect

The scheme is being opposed by environmental groups concerned over increased
carbon emissions. The planning application is likely to prove controversial, not
least because the airport is within the buffer zone for Hadrian’s Wall, a World
Heritage Site.

Richard Dyer, aviation spokesperson for Friends of the Earth, questioned the
demand for passenger flights over train journeys. He said: ‘If you are flying
into Stansted or Luton then you are talking about very similar journey times into
the centre of London.’

‘These short flights are immensely damaging in terms of climate change when compared
to travelling by train.’ He added there was also local opposition to the expansion
plan on the grounds of increased noise pollution.