Airport delays runway public consultation

A PUBLIC consultation over plans to expand Southampton Airport has been pushed back.

Airport bosses were planning to formally launch a consultation on plans to expand the runway at Southampton Airport by 164 metres on July 10.

Residents will be able to comment on the plans once published on Eastleigh Borough Council’s website.

But a spokesperson for Southampton Airport has now said: ‘The administrative processing of all of the new material onto the council planning portal is taking slightly longer than anticipated, and this now means that the public consultation on the planning application will go live next week.’

A date is yet to be set. Residents will have 30 days to have their say on the proposals which also include plans to add an extra 600 parking spaces to the longstay car park.

This will be the second public consultation on the airport expansion.

The plans were met with criticism as residents raised concerns over the environmental impact of the expansion. Neighbouring councils including Winchester and Southampton objected.

Southampton Airport previously said that following a high level of feedback received during the first public consultation last autumn, airport bosses made ‘some significant updates and improvements’ in many areas. Airport bosses said extending the runway is ‘absolutely vital’ to its future.

A final decision will be made by Eastleigh Borough Council.