The new £150m Leeds Bradford Airport terminal has been abandoned due to excessive planning delays and a public inquiry
The plans for the new Leeds Bradford Airport terminal were approved by the council in March 2021. The project would have involved the demolition of existing buildings to create a 366,000 sq ft (34,000 sq m) three-storey terminal.
Extend the existing airport terminal
Airport bosses will now revert to Plan B and instead extend its existing terminal. A planning application had already been approved by Leeds City Council in 2019.
Vincent Hodder, CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “It is with regret that we have made the decision to withdraw LBA’s application for the development of a new replacement terminal.
“As the travel and aviation industry continues to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, LBA needs to be able to respond to rapidly increasing demand within the next few years.
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported us in the planning process, from the general public to the business community and councils across Yorkshire.
“Whilst this is a setback for our airport and region, we remain committed to investing in LBA to be an outstanding, decarbonised, modern airport for the future.”
Airport planning application under public inquiry
According to the airport, the building would be a more efficient and sustainable development, helping it to achieve the airport’s carbon net-zero goals by 2023, however, campaigners petitioned for the development to not go ahead.
Michael Gove, Levelling Up Secretary, ‘called in’ the latest proposals earlier this year, meaning a public inquiry would be launched.
Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) said: “This is a victory for our climate and our communities. It means that LBA cannot extend daytime flying hours nor remove night time flying controls.
“As LBA said in their own planning application, this means they don’t have the capacity to increase passenger numbers above 5 million a year.
“This victory is down to the thousands of people who took action, donated funds and never gave up hope that we CAN make the right decisions today to build a better tomorrow. GALBA would like to say a massive ‘thank you’ to everyone who has backed our campaign.”
Efficient and sustainable airport
Alex Sobel, Labour MP for Leeds North West, commented: I’m pleased the airport is not proceeding with their application at public inquiry.
“From the start this was always about increasing passenger numbers and carbon emissions not getting a new building.
“I hope the airport will enter discussions about reducing aviation emissions now.”
