Climate-change storm as car park approved

PLANS for a new 729-space car park near Manchester Airport have been approved despite pleas from climate activists to reject it after the town hall declared a climate emergency.

Manchester council gave the goahead to the temporary car park, just off Enterprise Way. Applicants the Hut Group said it was necessary for its employees near the airport during ongoing construction work at another car park. And they argued they were promoting sustainable travel through their travel plan.

The town hall’s planning committee voted to approve the temporary car park - albeit for two years, rather than the requested five. But activists - and some councillors - said the decision undermines the climate emergency that the council declared last year.

Woodhouse Park councillor Brian O’Neil said: “There is a climate emergency. That does not exclude and should not exclude Manchester Airport and its partners that work around the airport site.” Dr Marc Hudson, from citizens group Climate Emergency Manchester, had told councillors: “What is before you I know is not a runway or terminal expansion, it is just another car park. Just one more. Just another. The longer we go on, the harder it is to stop and at some point, we have to stop.”

The car park itself is not attached to the airport but is for employees based at the Hut Group, which has a site at Airport City. The Hut Group said it needs the extra capacity during construction work at another car park.

Council officers pointed to the jobs created by the company - nearly 1,000 in the past 18 months.

The Hut Group said its plans for expansion would ultimately see up to 10,000 workers at Airport City and pointed to investment it had made in the city - £150m on this phase alone.

Council officers also pointed to the company’s travel plan, saying it encouraged staff to cycle to work and would include a shuttle bus.