Larger planes will in the future be able to fly in and out of Southampton Airport after plans to extend the runway were approved during the early hours of this morning (Saturday).
Councillors in Eastleigh battled it out online for more than 19 hours over 3 days before finally voting on the proposed 538ft extension at 02:15 this morning. The plans were approved by 22 to 13, with 1 abstention.
As well as creating 1,000 new jobs in the Solent region and bringing in £15million of investment, the expansion will mean that Islanders will be able to jet set to even more destinations as larger planes – and therefore new operators – will be able to use the airport. The airport will be limited to 3million passengers a year though.
Locals have been vocal in their objections but the expansion has previously been declared ‘vital’ to ensure the future of the airport, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Steve Szalay, Operations Director at Southampton Airport, says:
“By listening to the overwhelming public and business support, as well as the planning officer’s recommendation to approve, the councillors have safeguarded the future of the airport.
“The decision also ensures we are well placed to provide employment and support the region as we seek to recover post pandemic.
“We are excited about our future. This positive decision allows us to further develop our plans, play a full part in the Solent Freeport and deliver on our commitments set out within the planning application, which will further enrich our neighbouring communities.”
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Good news at last, hopefully means i won’t have to travel to Stanstead and Luton anymore
Good news for local employment, looking forward to using the airport
About time to .great news.
The government is on at us to install expensive heat pumps , buy expensive unsuitable electric cars etc in the name of battling so caledd climate change, yet here they are allowing Southampton airport to expand and produce yet more CO2. Why should we be penalised?
Makes a bit of a joke of our “government’s” farcical environment policies. Anyone fancy lying down in front of the bulldozers – Boris?
At least they had a ‘proper’ debate about it, if it were on the island it would’ve been over in a couple of minutes as the Tory scrutiny committee wouldn’t object and it would go ahead before your cup of tea got cold.