Latest on the airport

In very short, Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) are now applying to alter their existing planning conditions to a 'noise quota' system whereby they could have more of the quieter flights at night. We don't yet have the application itself - it's coming in November - so the below information is based on what the airport have shared with us in a briefing.

We have a lot of questions about this! And we're sure you do too. To reiterate our role; while councillors cannot control the planning process - planning is meant to be independent of politics and driven by legal considerations - we are prioritising:

• Public involvement: we don't want changes that substantially affect residents to be made without real consultation

• Public understanding: this stuff is complicated and we have experts on both sides of the argument making their case, we want to share what we can in an understandable format

• Action on enforcement: the problem with these repeated applications from the airport is that they muddy the water and make it trickier for the council to take enforcement action because there are 'open questions' to be answered. We're always lobbying for the maximum enforcement to be taken while being prudent with spending taxpayer's money. The airport have certainly been breaking their planning conditions and they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it, because those conditions exist for good reason!

Details from the airport briefing

Readers of our newsletter will be aware that previously LBA submitted CLEUD applications to Leeds City Council, to try and get agreement that their practice of having more flights at night - based on their own interpretation of the night flight controls - should be considered legitimate because they've been doing it for years. (This is a simplification!)

The CLEUD applications were not agreed. LBA appealed it, and again their appeal was largely rejected.

Now LBA are seeking to submit an amendment to their existing 2007 Planning Application via what is known as an 's73 Application' - which is an application to amend your planning conditions within an existing agreed planning consent.

The existing approved planning consent is (P/07/02208/FU), relating to night time flights. They want to amend these conditions to limit noise using a noise quota count system, which would be capped as part of the conditions. Older, noisier aircraft have a higher quota count and newer, quieter aircraft have a lower quota count.

Under the proposal, LBA would be subject to an annual, fixed quota count, meaning LBA would be limited to the quieter aircraft with lower quota count for night time flights.  LBA have said this would encourage airlines to invest in the newer, quieter aircraft and bring their night time operating  controls in line with current CAA and UK Government policy.

The proposals also include the introduction of a new night noise insulation scheme for the neighbourhoods most affected by night noise.

The airport's case is that the proposed changes will incentivise the introduction of quieter, more fuel efficient aircraft, and allow growth of the airport's trade.

LBA have said they are looking  to submit the s73 application in November. This update is intended to explain the airport's proposals prior to the application being submitted.