Planners agree to airport's call for bigger jets and night flights

Peel Airports, owners of the former RAF Finningley base, initially agreed to impose a ban on night flights when the airport opened in 2005.

The company signed a so-called section 106 agreement with the council, which also limited the number of large aircraft using the site each year. Both conditions aimed to cut noise.

But Doncaster Council's planning committee has agreed to relax the conditions to give the airport a chance to compete with other British air terminals for freight contracts by attracting larger planes at more varied times.

Peel Airports has said it is happy with the number of passenger flights it handles.

But managers at Robin Hood said its freight operation was suffering badly because rival airports such as Manchester, East Midlands and Stansted could work at night.

Plans to alter the conditions surrounding the airport were first mooted last year, but nearby villagers immediately expressed serious concerns.

The airport then withdrew its scheme for "further consultation" and said it had now made amendments to its plan, which would actually mean less noise for residents in communities like Bawtry.

However, councils representing people living on the take-off and landing approach have continued to lodge official objections with the council.

Bawtry Town Council said the initial restrictions were made "to protect residents" and added that "there is no justification for change".

But planning officers advised the 11-strong planning committee the changes should be agreed and said: "The proposals would be likely to increase the attractiveness of Doncaster and the airport for freight distribution."

They added: "The additional business would provide additional economic activity to support the implementation of the Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme and would relate well to a proposed strategic rail freight interchange adjoining Junction 3 of M18."

Airport director Mike Morton said aircraft are categorised using a so-called quota count, or QC, system, which is linked to the amount of noise they make on take-off and landing.

The highest category is QC16, but the loudest aircraft under the new guidelines would be QC4 – and only occasionally.

Night flights for QC4 aircraft had been banned between 11pm and 7am. Under the new scheme100 flights will be permitted annually.

The airport said it had also agreed to a total ban on larger QC8 and QC16 aircraft so that huge airliners and freight aircraft would not fly over homes.

Peel Airports said it had been unable to attract "key cargo operators" who needed "occasional flights" with QC4 aircraft from the airport at night.

Mr Morton said the changes were vital to "grow the air freight business, which has the potential to create 440 jobs". He added: "This news is another important step in making this airport even more attractive to prospective operators and to realise the potential it has in the air freight industry with the associated economic benefits this will bring for the region.

"Throughout the consultation that took place ahead of the council decision, we have stressed that this is not about creating increased noise.

"It is about giving operators the flexibility to use a mix of aircraft that they need from time to time, but with an even tighter level of overall night time noise limits and ensuring that we maintain and enhance our commitment to minimise the airport's impact on local communities."