Council objects to airport expansion
IMPACT OF CAPACITY INCREASE CAUSES CONCERN
PLANS to increase capacity at Farnborough Airport by 40 per cent have been formally objected to by Waverley Borough Council.
The airport is seeking planning permission to increase the number of planes taking off or landing from 50,000 to 70,000 per year.
It also wants to be allowed to have bigger aircraft using the airport and change flight patterns.
The council has written to the airport’s planning authority to express what it says are deep concerns over the impact that added air traffic will have on climate change, the natural environment, protected wildlife, residents and local businesses.
Primarily used by business and corporate passengers, Farnborough Airport argues that its environmental footprint is a “fraction” of traditional commercial airports. The airport also claims it is one of the region’s biggest employers.
Councillor Steve Williams, Waverley Borough Council portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said: “Private jets are the most damaging form of air travel because they carry so few passengers.
“Waverley Borough Council has declared a climate emergency, and we are firmly committed to reducing the emissions that contribute to climate change.
“Farnborough Airport is located just five miles north of the Waverley border and these latest proposals are totally incompatible with what we’re trying to achieve.
“Our residents, businesses and wildlife would all be directly affected by an increase in light, air and noise pollution because the airport’s flight path travels directly over the western part of our borough.
“We have three special protection areas specifically to safeguard rare bird species like the woodlark, nightjar and Dartford warbler. It would be a travesty if these special creatures were driven from their habitat here by increased numbers of wealthy people jetting in.”
Waverley Borough Council are calling on Rushmoor Borough Council, the planning authority, to reject the application.
The planning application was due to be heard by Rushmoor Borough
Council in March 2024 but has been pushed back “due to the need for additional information and the statutory consultation periods”.
Instead, and in part due to “considerable public interest” in the outcome, the council has pushed the expected date until after the May elections.
A Farnborough Airport spokesperson said it was an important gateway to connect travellers for business aviation connectivity with the majority of flights being operated for business and corporate travel purposes
They said: “The airport’s environmental footprint is a fraction that of a traditional commercial airport, yet it serves as one of the largest employment sites in the region.
“As part of the planning application process, Farnborough Airport was required to assess the environmental impact through the formal mechanism of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
“This EIA is extensive but in summary it concludes that for the majority of potential effects, the application has little to no significant environmental impact. We recognise the importance of continually improving our environmental performance and we are proud to be only one of a small number of UK airports to have achieved Level 4+ under the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.”