A COUNCIL leader has spoken in support of the move to confirm planning permission for Southampton Airport’s runway extension.

Last Thursday, Eastleigh Borough Council announced that it had issued a decision notice to grant permission for the 164-metre runway extension at the airport.

This came after several calls for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to call in the application after it was granted permission on April 10.

Despite this though, the council did not hear back from the government department by the end of May and subsequently took the decision to authorise the works.

Now, the leader of Southampton City Council, Cllr Daniel Fitzhenry has spoken in support of this move.

He said: “This is excellent news, supporting the runway extension is crucial to our economic recovery and wider growth as a city, and region.

“As we emerge from Covid restrictions and open up our economy more, this decision further helps Get Southampton Moving.”

This comes after the previous Labour run council objected to the plans, raising concerns over the impact the move would have on noise and pollution.

Officers at Eastleigh Borough Council have been working with the airport since permission was granted to draft an S106 Legal Agreement.

The agreement is aimed at ensuring that the package of mitigation and long term management of the airport is secured.

This includes a cap of three million passengers per year, controls on noise and vehicles and the establishment of a Community Health Fund.

Now the work has been completed, the airport’s operations director, Steve Szalay, has said: “The S106 agreement confirms the conditions that we discussed with the community and the Council, including a cap on growth to no more than three million passengers per year.

“This cap incorporates new controls on noise and vehicle movements, granting Eastleigh Borough Council more control over the airport. It also includes the provision of an enhanced noise insulation scheme, which exceeds industry standards and supports those homes most affected by our presence.”