News / Transport
Metro mayor quizzed on environmental concerns of Bristol Airport expansion
A politician who could end up being one of the most powerful voices on whether Bristol Airport can expand has set out her position on the controversial expansion plan.
The airport is planning to expand to serve 15m passengers per year, with a longer runway and flights to America and the Middle East.
The plans come just two years after it won a high court battle against campaigners to be able to expand to 12m passengers a year.
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Last week, Bristol City Council adopted a motion to oppose the expansion of the airport — but it is North Somerset Council which will have to decide whether to grant planning permission.
Councillors in North Somerset refused planning permission for it to expand to 12m passengers per year in 2020, only to see the decision overturned in a bruising planning inquiry.
But this time West of England Metro mayor Helen Godwin could end up being one of the key decision makers too.
Although North Somerset Council is not a member of the West of England Combined Authority, it has told the government it is interested in joining.
At the same time, the government is planning to give metro mayors powers to call-in or direct refusal of major planning applications of potential strategic importance in its Devolution Bill.
West of England Metro mayor Helen Godwin in front of Concorde – photo: John Wimperis
In a written question at Friday’s meeting of the West of England Combined Authority Committee it was made clear that residents were “concerned” by reports the Mayor was sympathetic to the new expansion.
Godwin responded: “The airport has yet to meet its current passenger numbers cap or submit a planning application for further expansion to North Somerset Council, who I hope will join our regional authority in the not-too-distant future so we can work even more closely together.
“Local people’s voices need to be heard in the planning process, particularly so soon after the Planning Inspectorate’s decision in 2022.
“It’s true that Bristol Airport supports a great many jobs in our region, and is a major driver of economic growth.
“We also face an unprecedented climate emergency and all want to help our planet, with a need for green innovation in every sector including aerospace.
“And everyone across the West knows that much more has to be done to help people get to and from the airport on public transport, which recent record transport funding from the government could help unlock.
“In the meantime, new laws being put forward in Parliament look set to provide regional mayors with new powers on planning.
“Mindful of that responsibility, my approach, now and in the future, will be to carefully consider the details of individual planning applications at the appropriate stage, looking at all the evidence.“
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Read more: Bristol Airport expansion debate continues
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Asked in another question by a resident if economic growth would be considered against the “environmentally damaging“ expansion of Bristol Airport, Godwin said: “I want to see the West leading the way on both economic growth and environmental progress, and don’t think that those goals are mutually exclusive.
“That will be my ambition for our region as mayor.“
Councillors on planning committees use their own judgement to vote based on non-political planning considerations. But decisions can be appealed if they are judged to have not made a decision in line with planning policy.
A major point of contention in the expansion was over whether the airport its environmental impacts would be too detrimental.
Bristol Airport’s lawyers argued successfully at the High Court that the council should only take into account the environmental impact of the airport buildings and ground vehicles — and not the emissions from the planes.
Main photo: Bristol Airport
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