Eastleigh approves Southampton Airport extension

Eastleigh Borough Council has approved plans to extend the runway at Southampton Airport.

A meeting of the full council voted in the early hours of Saturday (10 April) by 22 to 13 with one abstention, to permit the application from the airport to extend its runway.

In a statement, the council said it had ‘listened to an extensive number of representations from local people, councillors and organisations, both for and against the runway extension, together with evidence from a range of specialists, as well as deliberating a detailed report’.

‘Following a lengthy, extensive and robust debate the council made the decision to permit the planning application to extend the runway,’ the statement added.

Responding to the decision, the airport’s operations director, Steve Szalay, said it was ‘the news we have been hoping for and working so hard to achieve’.

‘By listening to the overwhelming public and business support, as well as the planning officer’s recommendation to approve, the councillors have safeguarded the future of the airport,’ he added.

‘The decision also ensures we are well placed to provide employment and support the region as we seek to recover post pandemic.

‘We are excited about our future. This positive decision allows us to further develop our plans, play a full part in the Solent Freeport and deliver on our commitments set out within the planning application, which will further enrich our neighbouring communities.

‘We appreciate that some of our neighbours have concerns regarding noise and the environment. Please be assured that we want to work with residents to mitigate these issues going forward.’

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