Government may call in decision on expanding Southampton Airport runway

THE government is considering whether to call in controversial plans to expand the runway at Southampton Airport.

Last month campaigners wrote to the Secretary of State for Communities, Robert Jenrick, asking for the planning application to extend the runway by 164m to be looked at again, writes Maria Zaccaro of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The news came after Eastleigh councillors approved the proposals following a 36-hour debate. It was also backed by New Forest District Council as an economic boost for the region.

In April, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) confirmed to have received “a number of requests to call in this planning application”.

If called in, the application would be considered at a public inquiry. If not called in, it would be returned to the council to decide.

It is not yet known when the government is expected to make a decision.

But in a statement a spokesperson for MHCLG said: “The requests to call in the decision are being considered and a decision will be made in due course. The decision letter will be issued to the local authority, closely followed by relevant interested parties.”

Southampton Airport also said there are no news or updates on timings.

It comes as last week airport bosses dismissed as “misleading” a report that said airport operators have overestimated the benefits of their expansion schemes while downplaying the environmental damage.

As previously reported, the plans to expand the runway at Southampton Airport proved controversial and a number of public consultations were run over the past two years.

Campaigners repeatedly called for the plans to be rejected on the grounds of climate change and pollution, but airport bosses and local businesses said the expansion would support the local economy.

The proposals were first rejected by the Eastleigh Local Area Committee at the end of March but were approved by full council at Eastleigh Borough Council on 10th April.

Twenty-two councillors voted in favour of the approval, 13 against and one abstained.