Southampton airport expansion to go ahead after Court of Appeal ruling
Campaigners have failed in their bid to have the plans thrown out
Last updated 1st Aug 2022
Plans to expand the runway of Southampton Airport will go ahead after the Court of Appeal upheld a council's decision.
Campaigners had claimed Eastleigh Borough Council 'unlawfully granted' permission to the proposals, which will see the runway's size increase by 164 feet.
They also had raised concerns about the environmental impact of the project.
The decision not to grant a judicial review means Group Opposed to the Expansion Of Southampton Airport (GOESA) no longer have any further legal challenge routes they can possibly pursue.
In a statement, Southampton Airport said it 'welcomed' the ruling.
The airport had previously said that an extension was necessary to allow larger planes such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 to use the site, and would generate an extra £240 million for the local economy by 2037.
A spokesperson for the airport added:
“The runway extension is a vital step in securing the airport’s long-term viability; it will also deliver significant economic benefits to the region, not least the creation of much-needed new jobs, including employment opportunities during the construction phase.
“We would like to thank all those who have supported our runway plans over the last few years, particularly the residents and businesses who registered their support during the planning process.
"We appreciate, however, that some of our neighbours have concerns regarding noise and the environment. As an airport, we want to work with the community to manage and mitigate these concerns going forward."
“In the coming weeks and months, we will keep local residents and stakeholders up-to-date with details of likely construction timescales, alongside further information related to the community benefits we committed to within the S106 legal agreement.”