Plans to extend the runway at Birmingham International Airport (BIA) have been approved.  The decision by Solihull Council's planning committee on Tuesday evening means the airport is now allowed to extend the runway southwards by 400 metres. 

The decision, which was unanimous, will now be passed to the government for a final seal of approval.  The airport welcomed the verdict, saying the extension would allow a greater choice of destinations to be offered from the Midlands’ main airport.

Birmingham Runway Plan

The plan to expand facilities at BIA has been a fraught one.  Originally BIA wanted to build a second runway, but permission for that was refused in 2007.  Instead, a proposal for an extended runway was submitted in January 2008. 

However, environmental campaigners and local lobby groups said the environmental impact would be detrimental to the local area.  Responding to these concerns, BIA forwarded a package of measures including insulation for soundproofing local homes, changes to local landscape to reduce noise and restrictions on night flying.

West Midlands Economy

Welcoming the news, Black Country Chamber president Peter Matthews said the runway’s extension would provide a significant boost to the entire West Midlands economy once the country had emerged from the recession.  “With the West Midlands having greater and easier access to the rest of the world there will be real benefits to international trade to the region,” Matthews said.

Joe Kelly from BIA added: “[The runway] is economically important when you consider that Tata, who bought Jaguar Land Rover, cannot fly direct to Birmingham from India.  This is the single most important transport priority for the entire region...in economic terms, but also in opening up the region to the rest of the world.”

Environmental groups said they were disappointed by the decision, with Green Party Euro MP candidate Felicity Norman saying it would have an “inexcusable” impact on the environment.

Source – Airport International’s UK Correspondent

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