Plans to expand Southampton Airport will be discussed tomorrow

Civic bosses are set to discuss proposals to expand the airport’s runway by 164 metres and add 600 parking spaces to the long stay car park at the site when they meet tomorrow evening.

Councillors at Southampton City Council is seeking clarification on various issues – including noise, local roads, trees and ecology – before a final decision is made by Eastleigh Borough Council.

An official report reads: ‘Without this additional information the Council cannot be satisfied that this airport scheme maintains an appropriate balance between the benefits of aviation and its costs, particularly in relation to its contribution to climate change and noise.’

The report added: ‘The proposed runway extension would facilitate a level of forecasted growth in Air Transport Movements (ATMs) that would be at odds with the Independent advice to government from the Committee on Climate Change on building a low-carbon economy and preparing for climate change.

‘Furthermore the forecasted amount and frequency of aircraft departing to the south and arriving from the south over Southampton, would have a predicted significant adverse noise effect.

‘The proposed mitigation measures/controls relating to forecasted carbon emissions andnoise impact are not alone sufficient in order to address these concerns.’