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Government backs airport revamp

Major plans to expand one of the North East’s airports have been given the go-ahead by the government. An application has been submitted to build a business park, hotel, pub and restaurant at Durham Tees Valley Airport, near Darlington. On Tuesday, the government decided there was no need to call in the planning application, and an airport spokesman said the decision would enable Darlington Council to give approval for the proposals.

The plans are the second phase of a long-term scheme to further develop the airport. An application for expansion of the terminal, together with additional aircraft stands, new taxiway and apron and cargo facilities, has already been approved by Darlington and Stockton councils.

Hugh Lang, managing director at the airport, said: “This a very important decision, not just for Durham Tees Valley Airport but the whole area because it enables us to develop our plans for meeting the needs of the ever-growing number of passengers hand-in-hand with the Business Park project.

“Our plans for the terminal and related developments, such as the new taxiway and apron facilities, are aimed at equipping us to handle up to three million passengers a year. “But the North Side business park is a key element in ensuring that we make full use of the whole of our site, including, in the longer term, the extensive area of land to the south side of the runway.”

About one million passengers a year currently travel through Durham Tees Valley Airport.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .