Council to decide on Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans

Plans to enhance employment opportunities as part of expansion proposals of Leeds Bradford International Airport are to be discussed by senior councillors in Leeds next week.

The proposed plan would see Leeds City Council release 36.2 hectares of land in and around the airport to encourage local businesses to expand while attracting new investment in order to boost the local economy and provide new jobs, skills and training opportunities for people living nearby in the north west of the city.

the council has already conducted a consultation with the airport and all key stakeholders, including more than 200 local employers in north west Leeds, on the strategy to support local business growth alongside future expansion of the airport.

For the airport itself, proposed improvements include a larger passenger terminal and the creation of a commercial hub made up of an air innovation park, airport village and an air freight park for improved cargo handling.

The air innovation park would focus on attracting research and development companies with links to higher education, while the airport village would include hotel, restaurant and retail developments.

3.3m passengers a year currently use the airport but this figure is expected to increase to 7.1m by 2030.

Transport and connectivity improvements also form part of the plans, with a new link road being progressed through the West Yorkshire Transport Fund and a potential rail link also being considered in the longer term.

Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said: “Releasing this land in and around the airport is vital to meet the local employment needs of the area in terms of helping established businesses grow and to encourage new jobs and skills opportunities.

“Together with the planned improvements to the airport infrastructure and the transport links, these plans show the ambition of the city to work with the airport and the local communities to bring about the maximum benefits in an ambitious but sustainable way.”