A PUBLIC consultation over plans to expand Southampton Airport has been pushed back.

As previously reported, airport bosses were planning to formally launch a consultation on plans to expand the runway at Southampton Airport by 164 metres on July 10.

Residents will be able to have their say by leaving a comment on the new plans once they will be published on Eastleigh Borough Council website.

But a spokesperson for Southampton Airport has now said: “The administrative processing of all of the new material onto the council planning portal is taking slightly longer than anticipated, and this now means that the public consultation on the planning application will go live next week.”

A date is yet to be set.

As reported, residents will  have 30 days to have their say on the proposals which also include plans to add an extra 600 parking spaces to the existing long stay car park.

The one set to start next week, will be the second public consultation on the airport expansion.

The news comes as the initial plans were met with criticism as some residents raised concerns over the impact the expansion would have on the environment and pollution.

Neighbouring local authorities including Winchester and Southampton councils objected to the scheme.

But  Southampton Airport had previously said that following a high level of feedback received during the first public consultation last autumn, airport bosses  made “some significant updates and improvements” in many key areas.

Airport bosses stressed that extending the runway is “absolutely vital” to the future of the airport. 

Residents have been asked to have their say on the new plans.

A final decision is expected to be made by Eastleigh Borough Council.