Plans to construct a new airport for Carlisle have won unanimous backing from county councillors.
Carlisle City Council is the planning authority which will make the ultimate decision on whether the application for the new airport from Stobart Air Ltd will be approved, but a meeting of the county council's Development Control and Regulation Committee today recommended that it should be given the green light.
The report approved by councillors said the airport gives "significant potential to support growth in Carlisle city and stimulate improvement in the economic performance of the county".
It spelled out a number of economic benefits in constructing a new £30m runway, passenger terminal, air traffic control centre, hangars, office buildings, distribution warehouses and car parking facilities at the site of the existing Carlisle Airport. These include:
- Attracting new inward investment from outside the area
- Retaining existing companies in the area
- Securing the expansion opportunities of existing companies
- Promoting the export success of companies by the provision of passenger and freight links to key markets
- Enhancing the competitiveness of the economy through the provision of fast and efficient passenger and freight services
- Adding wider travel alternatives for local people
- Reducing the miles that passengers travel to access air travel
- Attracting business and leisure visitors to the area, generating income and employment in and via the tourism industry
Officers from Cumbria County Council have been working closely with Stobart Air Ltd to advise them on the planning application. The report approved by the Development Control and Regulation Committee said a number of further issues should be addressed to make the planning application more robust. These include:
- Providing additional bus services to serve the development at peak times
- Reduce the number of staff car parking facilities to encourage public transport, car sharing and cycling
- Amend the access onto the A689 to a roundabout
- Further assess the impact of the traffic signals proposed on Laversdale Road and Irthington Road
- Carry out further archaeological investigation and evaluation
- Conduct an improved ecology survey and statement of the effects of the development on nature conservation interests both on and off site, an improved biodiversity protection, mitigation, compensation and enhancement package and implement an agreed Biodiversity and Enhancement Plan
- Conduct further design and landscape work to mitigate the visual impact of the development
Cllr Geoff Prest, Chairman of the Development Control and Regulation Committee, said:
"This airport will be good for Cumbria. Every effort is being made to support the application and to make sure it stands up when the final planning decision is made. It will bring much-needed investment and jobs into the region and also make it easier to use Carlisle as a platform for growth. For too long Cumbrian residents and visitors have had to travel unacceptable distances when using airports."
ENDS
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