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The Council has been formally advised of the decision of Government to refuse the application for a new passenger terminal, serving two million passengers per annum, at Coventry Airport .
The Secretaries of State have concluded that there would be an adverse environmental impact from noise which would give rise to a significant loss of local residential amenity. In addition, they conclude that the scale of increase proposed would conflict with its role as complementary to Birmingham airport and would not represent a sustainable form of development, particularly in relation to public transport.
The decision follows a major public inquiry that took place during 2006 following the Government’s decision to “call in” the application, prior to any Council decision, for it to be considered at national level.
The decision supports the view of the Council that whilst the principle of limited development at Coventry Airport is in accordance with National and Regional policy, it must also be dependent on appropriate constraints and mitigation measures being put in place. The Government has concluded that the mitigation measures proposed by the Airport are insufficient to compensate for the additional impact of the proposal.
The Council has always accepted that this was a matter that Government would ultimately need to determine. The Council is therefore satisfied that this issue has now been resolved at this level and that there is now a clear framework for applying planning policy to the airport.
This approach complements that taken by the Inspector in his recent report on the Warwick District Local Plan, where he supported the Council's defence of Green Belt protection over the airport and its requirement for strict criteria to be applied to any development proposals.
Councillor John Hammon, Portfolio Holder for Development said: "I am very pleased that the Government has finally resolved the issue of the impact of Coventry Airport on the local area. This Council has been faced with great difficulties in dealing with the airport’s ambitions for expansion, balancing the concerns of the local community against wider Regional and National policy. In refusing the proposal for a terminal, this decision now provides the clarification the Council needs and acknowledges the concerns of the local community. It is a good decision and one I am sure will be welcomed by many."
Final decision letter (316kb, PDF)
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