It was a closely fought decision. A meeting of Leeds Councils Plans Committee (West) went on for four and a half hours, and the result was a four to three vote in favour of the proposed airport expansion.
The £28 million development is expected to create 2,000 new jobs, but at what cost to the local infrastructure and environment? Road users are going to see a dramatic rise in the numbers of vehicles on the local roads, due to the proposed increase of passenger numbers from the present 2.9 million passengers being increased to 5.1 million passengers.
The expansion of the outdated terminal building is at the heart of a £70 million masterplan, designed to improve facilities and increase the number of passengers from 2.9 million to 5.1 million passengers.
The main points in the proposal are:-
Airport operators to pay £1 million for road improvements.
Annual contribution of £228,000 towards buses.
Passenger numbers rising to 5.1 million b y 2016
Passenger facilities will include more shops and food outlets
Expanded security screening travellers
The expansion of the outdated terminal building is at the heart of a £70 million masterplan, designed to improve facilities and increase the number of passengers from 2.9 million to 5.1 million passengers.
The main points in the proposal are:-
Airport operators to pay £1 million for road improvements.
Annual contribution of £228,000 towards buses.
Passenger numbers rising to 5.1 million b y 2016
Passenger facilities will include more shops and food outlets
Expanded security screening travellers
In 2004 the airport published a master plan in line with government recommendations. The master plan set out the following proposals for future development:
Expansion of the terminal buildings, with new gates added including airbridge boarding tunnels.
New aircraft parking areas (there are currently 18 stands, this would increase to 31).
A change to the runway configuration (part of which has already been carried out). This includes building a taxiway parallel to the main runway. This would allow aircraft movements to increase from 16 to 25 per hour.
New airfield equipment and buildings (including aircraft hangars, new flight catering facilities and a new fuel farm).
Hotel and office space (the first phase of which is now complete).
A railway station from a spur near Horsforth.
New car parking areas.
A new link road from the A65, to the airport and then to the A658.
The master plan sets out the stages of development for Leeds Bradford Airport over the next 10 years and outlines general proposals for the period from 2016 to 2030. It is estimated that by 2016 the airport will handle in excess of 5.1 million passengers per year as well as seeing a significant increase in freight traffic. Both Flybe and Ryanair have expressed an interest in expanding their routes at the airport, with Ryanair announcing intentions to base aircraft there.
Bridgepoint Capital and Leeds City Council hope that by redeveloping the airport, it will attract even more companies, jobs and people to the Leeds City Region which already has a population of 2.9 million.
Expansion of the terminal buildings, with new gates added including airbridge boarding tunnels.
New aircraft parking areas (there are currently 18 stands, this would increase to 31).
A change to the runway configuration (part of which has already been carried out). This includes building a taxiway parallel to the main runway. This would allow aircraft movements to increase from 16 to 25 per hour.
New airfield equipment and buildings (including aircraft hangars, new flight catering facilities and a new fuel farm).
Hotel and office space (the first phase of which is now complete).
A railway station from a spur near Horsforth.
New car parking areas.
A new link road from the A65, to the airport and then to the A658.
The master plan sets out the stages of development for Leeds Bradford Airport over the next 10 years and outlines general proposals for the period from 2016 to 2030. It is estimated that by 2016 the airport will handle in excess of 5.1 million passengers per year as well as seeing a significant increase in freight traffic. Both Flybe and Ryanair have expressed an interest in expanding their routes at the airport, with Ryanair announcing intentions to base aircraft there.
Bridgepoint Capital and Leeds City Council hope that by redeveloping the airport, it will attract even more companies, jobs and people to the Leeds City Region which already has a population of 2.9 million.
The question remains in my mind – does the increase in jobs outweigh the impact on the local population in terms of road congestion and environmental harm?
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