Green light for airport terminal extension

The proposed multimillion-pound extension of the main airport terminal building at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), which will support a projected increase from four million to seven million passengers by 2030, has been given the go-ahead.Leeds City Council approved the airport’s planning application at a meeting of its City Plans Panel yesterday (6 December 2018). Insider reported last week (29 November), that the council’s planning officer had recommended the application were given the go-ahead.The development will comprise a two/three storey extension to the main airport terminal building to provide significantly larger immigration and baggage reclaim areas, improved departure gate facilities, additional retail and food and beverage outlets and additional free seating. Work is set to begin in spring 2019.LBA contributes £336m to the region’s economy every year and supports more than 2,350 direct jobs.The project represents an investment of between £20m and £25m and is the largest since AMP Capital purchased the airport in October 2017. It is part Pat of the airport’s ‘Route to 2030 Strategic Development Plan’, which will support an annual passenger numbers increase from four million to seven million by 2030.It also forms part of the wider strategy to improve the region’s connectivity nationally and internationally.The planning application was made on behalf of Leeds Bradford Airport by Deloitte Real Estate.Once the new building is complete, the the existing terminal building will be remodelled to provide a new security central search area, enhanced check-in facilities, and a simplification of the customer journey through the existing departure lounge, which will also include new retail and food and drink units.The final phase will include the construction of a new pier, replacing the current passenger walkway with a two-storey structure, housing arrivals and ground level, and departures being processed at additional new boarding gates on the first floor.