This morning, Leeds Bradford Airport has announced it is withdrawing its planning application for a replacement terminal.
The withdrawal is said to come from “excessive delays and the decision to call in plans by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities”.
Airport bosses have said that they are “not prepared to commit a further uncapped sum over an indefinite timeframe into a public enquiry process when their focus needs to be on modernising the airport for the future”.
According to Business Traveller, the original terminal building plans would have cost over £150 million and included a three-floor, 34,000 sqm terminal building, but the airport would still manage to meet its target of net zero carbon emissions from airport operations by 2023.
The airport will now turn its attention to developing the extension to the existing terminal, originally approved by Leeds City Council in 2019.
This is thought to enable LBA to meet the rapidly increasing passenger demand as the aviation sector recovers from the pandemic without the extra terminal building.
In a statement released this morning, Leeds Bradford Airport said that, “LBA remains committed to delivering its 2030 Carbon Net Zero Roadmap and to creating a modern, decarbonised regional UK airport within the extension scheme” and it is thought that this will be factored into developing the extension of the existing terminal.
Vincent Hodder, CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “It is with regret that we have made the decision to withdraw LBA’s application for the development of a new replacement terminal.
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“As the travel and aviation industry continues to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, LBA needs to be able to respond to rapidly increasing demand within the next few years.
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported us in the planning process, from the general public to the business community and councils across Yorkshire. Whilst this is a setback for our airport and region, we remain committed to investing in LBA to be an outstanding, decarbonised, modern airport for the future.”
“My team and I are optimistic about the recovery from the pandemic and about the future of Leeds Bradford Airport”.
Details of the extension scheme will be released in the coming months.
Feature Image- Leeds Bradford Airport
