Leeds Bradford expansion plans.........
I notice yesterday's Yorkshire Evening Post reports that the expansion plans at LBA are set to be given the go-ahead at a meeting pencilled in for Thursday of this week.
Thoughts (article below) ?
PLANS for a £28m terminal expansion at Leeds Bradford International Airport are expected to be given the green light.
Leeds City Council's planning committee was set to rubber-stamp the project – expected to generate 3,000 jobs – in April but deferred its decision calling for better transport links.
The authority's chief planning officer has now compiled a new report addressing its queries and is recommending the panel "defer and delegate approval" at Leeds Civic Hall on Thursday, subject to a raft of conditions to combat congestion and improve public transport.
They include the setting up of a transport steering group, including Leeds, Bradford, and York City Councils, Metro and Leeds Bradford International Airport to monitor the impact of the changes on highways and public transport.
And more than £1m will be paid out to improve bus services.
The report concludes: "There has been considerable discussion and negotiation with the airport since April and significant progress has been made."
It adds: "The airport has also committed to longer term initiatives including making their land available for tram train."
It said the steering group would review passenger numbers and traffic levels. Cash provided through the planning conditions would mean action could be taken to minimise impact on the roads.
The application is for a two-storey extension, providing a new entrance and improved shops, passenger screening zone and immigration facilities.
Airport owners Bridgepoint Capital say passengers travelling through the existing terminal building are beset with delays and congestion.
Although the council has received an "unprecedented" number of representations, for and against the project, no-one is objecting to the building itself.
Concerns stem from the expected growth in passenger and car numbers and the impact on surrounding routes.
The report to councillors said its transport strategy was drawn up using a worst-case scenario of traffic around the airport growing to five million passengers per year by 2012. Levels were unlikely to reach that point as they had remained constant for the past three years.
The expansion of the terminal building is at the heart of a £70m masterplan designed to improve facilities and increase passenger numbers to 5.1 million a year by 2016.
Preliminary works costing £2m have already been carried out.
Tony Hallwood, pictured, commercial and aviation development director at LBIA, said: "Our aim is to offer customers modern facilities which allow them quick and easy access to and from the terminal.
"We are determined to continue to improve the quality of services we provide to our passengers and our on-going investment will deliver a significant enhancement to terminal facilities."
Councillors will visit the airport on Thursday before the application is once again put before them.