Residents furious over new £200m airport revamp that could ‘keep them awake at night’ | UK | News

Residents near a major UK airport have expressed concerns about the potential impact of planned expansion works.

The £200m expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has sparked complaints from residents who fear the noise of planes landing and taking off will keep them awake and reduce house prices in the surrounding area.

Others welcomed the investment in the UK’s 13th largest airport at a time when infrastructure in the North is lagging behind that in the South.

Local builder Rob Fountain told The Sun he was excited about the expansion and did not mind the subsequent thefts.

He said: “I know people have complained about late flights, but people need to understand that a plane can’t always just take off.

“There are delays, especially wherever they come from.”

The project aims to transform LBA’s existing terminal into a modern, efficient and sustainable facility, improving the passenger experience and supporting the region’s economic growth.

Work officially began in April and aims to deliver a 9,500 m² three-storey extension to the existing terminal, as well as a major renovation of the current facilities.

Passengers will benefit from additional parking bays, more seats, faster security screening, new shops and restaurants, a larger baggage claim area and immigration hall, and improved access for passengers with reduced mobility.

Vincent Hodder, CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “This is a significant moment in LBA’s history, representing the culmination of thousands of hours of planning, consultation and design.

“As one of Yorkshire’s most significant infrastructure projects, we and our passengers are extremely excited to see it develop in the coming months.

“When completed, this project will deliver the airport our passengers, our airlines and our region need and deserve.”

The renovation has been criticized by climate groups who fear the increase in emissions will have a devastating impact on the environment.

Nick Hodgkinson, chairman of the Leeds Bradford Airport Action Group (GALBA), wrote in the Yorkshire Evening Post: “LBA’s new vision would increase greenhouse gases by 2030.

LBA claims that the increase will be temporary, so it doesn’t matter. This is simply not true, the next few years are crucial.

In a post on X, GALBA said: “The Climate Change Committee is clear: no airport expansion until there are clean fuels that reduce emissions on a large scale. That means NO to any airport expansion, across the UK, at this time.”

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin stressed the need to balance climate concerns with the need to increase local jobs and their ability to compete economically.

She said: “This substantial private investment will benefit local communities and the wider Yorkshire region, acting as a catalyst for significant long-term economic growth.

“The airport plans promise to create a range of skilled jobs and strengthen connectivity between key international markets, creating new opportunities for Yorkshire businesses overseas.”

“The commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from airport ground operations is an important first step.

“Industry-wide, there is still much to be done to decarbonise aviation as a whole, and I look forward to seeing how Leeds Bradford can contribute to this.”