BHX Runway extension – approval granted

BHX have officially been granted permission for their runway extension…tis a good day :D:D

Runway extension granted planning permission
From Cllr Stuart Davis, Chairman of the Planning Sub Committee on 01 April 2009

Solihull Council’s planning sub committee has granted planning permission for a proposed extension to the runway at Birmingham Airport, subject to a package of conditions and obligations.

The unanimous decision was made at a meeting of the Planning Sub Committee held last night (31 March) following the submission of a revised 106 agreement.

In December 2008, Councillors stated they were minded to approve the application, subject to a revised 106 agreement being brought forward, to ensure the conditions fully mitigated any negative impact and ensured the delivery of benefits to local people.

The Secretary of State will now be notified of the decision and will decide whether she wishes to intervene in the decision making process.

The application was to extend the runway by 405 metres. It also included the building of a new air traffic control tower, and the realignment of the A45 through a tunnel for vehicles.

Members agreed that any 106 agreement should serve to protect local residents from the effects of increased noise, impose a restriction of the numbers of air traffic movements, improve public transport, landscape improvements, ecology, air quality, employment and tourism.

Chairman of the Planning Sub Committee Stuart Davis, said: “Taking this application as a whole, we felt there were enormous benefits in allowing this to go ahead so long as we could mitigate any negative impacts. We were concerned in December that the 106 agreement did not go far enough, and tonight we were presented with a revised agreement that almost took us to where we want to be. Last night we asked the airport to take some aspects of the agreement a bit further which will take us to a situation where we feel that we are able to go ahead. We feel that we have done our utmost to protect residents from the impact of noise, any increase in traffic, and to ensure that the local environment is not adversely affected. I am pleased that we have been able to come to a comprehensive agreement that benefits and protects all concerned.
In approving this application, we are delivering on national, regional and local policy, and remain at the leading edge of practice in planning terms. We have looked at this in holistic terms, this will have a tremendous impact on the local economy, with this scheme bringing in over 2,100 jobs and around £113m income. There will be a positive impact on tourism, on culture – this will be good not just for the local area but the whole region.”

Source: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/news/19034.htm