Campaigners opposed to plans to expand Bristol Airport will have their court challenge heard in November.
The airport’s expansion, if it goes ahead, will increase its annual passenger capacity from 10m to 12m. However, campaign group the Bristol Airport Action Network argues that the expansion is unnecessary and that it will open the doors to similar expansion at other regional airports.
The airport’s plans were rejected by North Somerset Council in 2020 on environmental grounds, but the decision was overturned in February when the airport appealed the decision to a planning inspector. The inspector recommended the plans, and they were then approved by levelling up, housing and communities secretary Michael Gove.
BAAN is challenging this decision, arguing that the planning inspector made errors of law. In May, a High Court judge said that the case was arguable and should go ahead, and a court date has just been set.
The hearing will take place on 8 and 9 November at the Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre, before a High Court judge.
“The judge’s finding that the claim is arguable shows that there is an important issue to be decided by the court,” said Ricardo Gama, a lawyer at Leigh Day who is representing BAAN, in a statement.
He added: “It would be very surprising for national government to be able to overturn a decision of democratically elected councillors which is based on sound planning reasons, including local planning policies which are specifically meant to address climate issues.
“It is difficult to see how climate issues are meant to be addressed in the planning system when local authorities try to make the right decisions for a climate-compatible future only to be rebuffed by national government.”
