10.4. 2009  

Blow for Leeds Bradford Airport.   April 2009    

A £28 million development of Leeds Bradford Airport has been dealt a blow after planners turned down the first phase of the project.

Airport bosses want to add a two-storey extension to its main terminal to attract five million passengers per year by 2012 – an increase of more than two million.

But a planning panel has refused the application, citing serious concerns about the predicted passenger increases and the impact on the area’s roads and environment.

Planning officers had recommended that Leeds Plans Panel (West) rubber-stamp the proposals, which would include a £2 million roadworks and public transport fund.

But the panel turned down the bid, calling for more detailed road improvement and public transport plans to be drawn up before they could approve any expansion.

A group of anti-expansion protesters had lobbied outside the meeting, which was moved to a larger building as 200 members of the public packed into Yeadon Civic Hall for the hearing.