The airport's Statement of Intent, published in connection with the Government White Paper, and which forms the basis for public consultation following which the airport's Master Plan will be submitted, concentrates on extending the current terminal building up to a level of 9 million pax per year. The airport also reckons a total of 30 stands will be needed to achieve this annual total.
They don't want a second terminal because it would have to be south of the runway and would lead to operational difficulties, although this might have to be addressed at some point after the 9 million pax total is reached.
They hope that work would begin on extending the current terminal (by up to 80%) in 2007 but it is dependent on planning permission and there could be problems with the local authority's Green Belt which as it stands would hinder the airport's desired development.
Things should be clearer when the Master Plan is submitted, probably at the end of this year.
Even what many would consider modest expansion plans contained in the Statement of Intent have already raised the hackles of the usual suspect opponents, and the Chew Valley Gazette is full of their hot air this month.