VOICES OF THE FUTURE: Leeds Bradford Airport explansion is at odds with city’s climate targets

In this week’s column, Shawna Healey explains why the Leeds Bradford Airport expansion will have damaging consequences on the UK’s climate targets:
By Shawna Healey
Published 5th Mar 2021, 06:00 BST

Approved plans for a new terminal at Leeds Bradford Airport is a step backward for the council’s plan of net-zero carbon by 2030.

Leeds Bradford Airport’s (LBA) plan to build a new state-of the-art replacement terminal was approved by the council last month.

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Despite claims of environmental efficiency, the expansion plans have been met with criticisms from climate activists.

The expansion scheme, which has been controversial since its announcement last year, has an opening target of 2023 and will cost around £150m.

The proposal aims to dramatically improve passenger experience and deliver one of the UK’s most environmentally efficient airport buildings, supporting the region’s economic prosperity in the process.

The West Yorkshire anti-airport expansion group, the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA), has written to the Secretary of State for local government, Robert Jenrick, asking him to “call in” on the approval for the airport’s expansion.

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If Mr Jenrick agrees, the airport’s planning application will be dealt with at a public enquiry.

GALBA believes that the LBA expansion is equivalent to the decision to open the first Cumbrian deep coal mine in 30 years. The similarities are striking. Both decisions have been made in the same year that the UK hosts COP26.

Chris Foren, GALBA chairman, said: “To say the least, this decision is embarrassing for the UK’s reputation as a global leader on tackling the climate crisis.”

“The Secretary of State has the power to intervene and he should now exercise that power”, he added.

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