Legal challenge over runway extension plan rejected
Southampton Airport wants to extend its runway by 164 metres
Campaigners have lost a legal battle to stop the expansion of Southampton Airport.
A judicial review has found Eastleigh Borough Council acted lawfully when it approved the airport's plans to extend its runway by 164 metres.
It would allow the airport to take larger planes, carrying more passengers.
Eastleigh Borough Council approved the extension plans last April but protestors claimed the authority had acted unlawfully - the High Court has now dismissed that.
A Southampton Airport spokesperson said: "The court’s judgment is an exciting step forward for Southampton Airport, as it will allow us to progress our much-needed runway plans, provide certainty to our staff, and play a full part in the emerging Solent Freeport.
"The extension will secure the airport’s long-term viability and deliver significant economic benefits to the region, not least the creation of much-needed new jobs, including employment opportunities during the construction phase.