Planning Inspectorate approves Liverpool airport expansion plans
The UK Planning Inspectorate has granted Liverpool John Lennon airport’s (LJLA) Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) appeal for a large area of land that is to be utilised for the continued expansion of the airport. The local Council, Halton, rejected the airport’s initial LDC application, once it became aware of the actual facts behind the loss of the land. The airport plans 14 acres of solar panels east of Dungeon Lane, the energy from which will be used by the airport. However, the airport appealed and this may been influenced by politics. Local campaigners are devastated at this news, since the evidence against the airport expansion in the case was damming. The solar farm is part of a wider £100m project by the airport. Other components of the initiative include a new road for the airport, a large warehouse to the south of the airport, expansion of the existing terminal, and extension of the runway. . Tweet Planning Inspectorate approves Liverpool airport expansion plans 18th September 2023 The UK government inspectorate has just granted Liverpool John Lennon airport’s (LJLA) LDC (Lawful Development Certificate) appeal for a large area of land that is to be utilised for the continued expansion of LJLA. The Local Council rejected the airport’s initial LDC application, once it became aware of the actual facts behind the loss of the land. However, the airport appealed and it is, thus, clear this was a government political decision and nothing to do with the facts associated with the case. This expansion includes continued development of its private executive jet facility. Local campaigners are devastated at this news, since the evidence against the airport expansion in the case was damming. It is clear it was a political decision and the government inspectorate chose to simply ignore the evidence against the expansion. The same thing happened at the two local plan hearings. The inspectors in this case did not appear to have much prior knowledge, or understanding, of airport issues. It has been difficult, over the last 4/5 years, to get journalists, politicians and local councillors to take an interest in the scandal associated with this case, and the loss of land to the airport. Even when the Guardian newspaper published a detailed piece concerning airport expansion in the UK, the Liverpool John Lennon case didn’t even receive a mention in the article. Doncaster airport has just been closed down by the same owners (who are also part owners of LJLA and originally held 90% of the LJLA equity. The same owners sold off Teesside airport to the local councils and BBC UK Radio 4 recently broadcast a programme which included a reference to this sale. Liverp
