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Environmental report ‘casts doubt’ on Bristol Airport’s economic claims
Bristol Airport’s expansion plans have been criticised in the wake of a new report that questions the economic benefits of such expansion compared to its environmental impact.
The report from a committee of MPs also found that planned airport expansion across the UK, which would result in hundreds of thousands of extra flights a year, could risk the government’s own net-zero goals.
The main justification for the expansion of Bristol Airport by its supporters is economic growth and job creation, with the airport claiming its latest plans would add £1bn to the economies of the South West and south Wales.
However, the committee said: “The government has not demonstrated that the economic growth from airport expansion provides enough benefit to outweigh the negative climate and environmental impacts it will lead to.”
Bristol Airport has published a new masterplan to increase its passenger capacity from 12 million to 15 million per year by 2040, along with a longer runway and flights to America and the Middle East.
A spokesperson told Bristol24/7 the airport is “critical to the region’s economy, providing links to overseas markets and welcoming inbound tourists” and promised it is “investing heavily to achieve net zero airport operations by 2030”.
Plans to expand Bristol Airport have been met with various protests – photo: Rob Browne
Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN) is leading the charge against expansion and describes itself as “a volunteer group of concerned residents who consider that Bristol Airport is simply big enough already”.
The group cites concerns including increased carbon emissions, noise pollution from more night flights, traffic congestion on local roads and the loss of green belt land.
They said the new report from the cross-party Commons environmental audit committee “casts doubt” on Bristol Airport’s economic claims, with campaigner Mary Collett calling the update “really important”.
“BAAN has been saying for some time that the evidence from Bristol Airport’s previous expansions does not show any real economic benefit.
“Bristol Airport has previously wildly over-estimated future jobs and economic gain, but sadly we’re all well aware of the harms that expansion brings in terms of more air pollution, more noise and more traffic.”
Responding, an airport spokesperson said: “An additional 800 on-site jobs were predicted to be created in our last planning application – this has already been exceeded.
“Longer term, there has been a 107 per cent rise in employment numbers since 2006, mirroring the 108 per cent increase in passenger numbers.”
Stephen Clarke, representing NoAirportExpansion, added: “We don’t believe that expansion of the aviation industry can possibly be compatible with the UK’s legal commitment to reach net zero by 2050.”
Steve Clarke is also leading member of Bristol Airport Action Network – photo: BAAN
Labour chair of the committee Toby Perkins said: “The government is proposing to expand airport capacity because it will help to grow the economy.
“But ministers were unable to point us to solid evidence setting out how much growth such expansion would deliver. If these plans are ever to get off the ground, it’s vital that the government provide us with some hard facts.”
Bristol Airport’s latest plans involve increasing passenger capacity to 15 million by 2040 – image: Bristol Airport
A Bristol Airport spokesperson said: “The airport is one of our area’s largest private sector employers, with over 5,800 people working on-site.
“The number of people working here has more than doubled in the past 20 years and continues to grow faster than predicted.
“We’re critical to the region’s economy, providing links to overseas markets and welcoming inbound tourists.
“Although Bristol Airport’s plans aren’t mentioned in the Committee’s report, we note that it recognises that airport expansion creates economic growth and its importance to the UK’s regions.
“Our proposals to grow would deliver 1,000 extra on-site jobs, create new direct links to the Middle East and North America, and generate an additional £1bn for our regional economy.
“We’re investing heavily to achieve net zero airport operations by 2030. Our region is one the world’s great centres for aerospace and a hub for new flight technology.
“Bristol Airport is working in unique partnerships with the aerospace sector to accelerate the arrival of zero emissions flight.”
A planning application for the airport’s latest expansion plans is expected to be submitted to North Somerset Council in the autumn.
Main photo: Betty Woolerton
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