Hilary has sent the letter below objecting to the recent Leeds Bradford Airport planning application.

David Feeney
Chief Planning Officer
Leeds City Council

7 June 2020

Dear Mr Feeney

Re: Planning Application: Leeds Bradford Airport (20/02559/FU)

I am writing to object to the above planning application.

The idea of replacing an outdated building with a much more environmentally friendly building is not objectionable in principle, but it is not the main issue in this application.

The grounds for my objection are the consequence of this development for the chances of Leeds meeting its climate targets. I understand that the application states that the airport is expecting 7 million passengers per year by 2030, which is higher than the current figure. This will inevitably result in a higher level of CO2 emissions from more flights, even though it is said that the building and ground emissions from operations will be net zero from 2023. It is impossible to separate the infrastructure of the airport from the emissions of flights to and from it. I do not see how the emissions reduction targets for either Leeds, or indeed the UK, can be met if emissions from aviation at Leeds Bradford increase in the way planned until such time as a zero-carbon means of powering planes into the sky becomes available.

I am also concerned that there will be a noise impact from more flights in an expanded take-off and landing time window, and inevitable traffic consequences in the area around the airport.

I would be grateful if you could take these objections into account in considering this application.

Best wishes

Rt Hon Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds Central