High Court has ruled that expansion of Bristol Airport will…
Campaigners against the expansion of Bristol airport legally challenged the decision of the Planning Inspectorate (PI), a year ago. The High Court has now ruled that the expansion can go ahead. North Somerset Council rejected the expansion in 2020 on environmental grounds but that decision was later overruled by the PI. Expansion would see the airport increase its capacity from 10 million to 12 million passengers per year. Opponents of the growth, through the Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN), are very disappointed, but are already planning on challenging the ruling. BAAN has been arguing planning inspectors were wrong to ignore the impact a bigger airport would have on climate change. In his decision Lord Justice Lane said expanding the airport would impact the environment but that the decision is for central government not local. There is no proper law on UK aviation, or any legal means to control cumulative CO2 emissions from many airport expansion. The Climate Change Committee say there are big risks in the airline industry hoping for low carbon fuels in future, and recommend that “there should be no net expansion of airport capacity”. .Tweet Bristol Airport expansion granted at High Court 31.1.2023 (BBC) The airport could increase its capacity from ten million to 12 million passengers per yearBy Emma Elgee See link for photos The expansion of Bristol Airport will be allowed to go ahead, the High Court has ruled. Campaigners have been appealing against the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to allow the expansion. North Somerset Council rejected the expansion in 2020 on environmental grounds but that decision was later overruled by the government agency. Expansion would see the airport increase its capacity from ten million to 12 million passengers per year. Campaigners have said they are “extremely disappointed” after Tuesday’s hearing result but have said they are already planning on challenging the ruling. A spokesperson for the airport said: “Bristol Airport welcomes the High Court Judge’s decision to dismiss the claim and uphold the planning permission to increase Bristol Airport’s capacity”. They added the decision will create 5,000 new jobs and will see millions of pounds invested in improving customer experience. The hearing which has been held at Bristol’s Civil Justice Centre has been examining whether the Planning Inspectorate acted correctly when granting planning permission last year. Campaigners outside court in Bristol The appeal has been mounted by the Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN), which has been arguing planning inspectors were wrong to ignore the impact a bigger airport would have on climate change. But the inspectorate, which is an agency of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, says a local planning decision cann
