Natural England advises councillors against any decision on £150m Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans

The non-departmental public body has said it needs to see assessments on issues including aviation noise, air quality and bird strike - collisions between birds and aircrafts - before it can give its final verdict.

Its initial response has been lodged as part of the consultation into £150m plans for a new three-storey terminal building, close to the proposed airport (LBA) parkway rail station. The proposals also include increasing allowed daytime flight times from 7am-11pm to 6am-11.30pm.

In a section on a Habitats Regulations Assessment submitted by the applicants, Natural England notes: "On the basis of information provided, Natural England advises that there is currently not enough information to rule out the likelihood of significant effects.

"Natural England therefore advises that your authority should not grant planning permission at this stage."

As the consultation period closes today (July 7), campaigners opposing the expansion pointed to this line as evidence that the environmental body was seeking a rethink on the plans.

Chris Foren, who chairs the anti-airport expansion campaign group GALBA, said: “Natural England have basically said that LBA haven’t bothered to assess the damage that their expansion plans would do to wildlife and nature.

"When you read the report, it’s full of polite but firm requests for LBA to go away and re-write their planning application.”

But a spokesman for the airport said it was "deliberately misleading" of those opposed to the expansion to make such a claim on the back of a routine request for further evidence.

Also in news: Second Leeds MP submits objection to Leeds Bradford Airport expansion

Natural England's statutory purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced, and managed for the benefit of present and future generations.

Its seven-page response said further information was needed to understand the "potential significant effects" on designated sites and landscapes, and what scope there was for measures to mitigate against any harm.

The designated sites include the special protection areas and special areas of conversation covering the South Pennine Moors and North Pennine Moors, and a sites of special scientific interest covering West Nidderdale, Barden and Blubberhouses Moors.

A specific noise impact assessment for the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was also requested.

Mr Foren said: "LBA’s Australian owners, AMP Capital, have tried to present the application as being all about a new ‘green’ terminal building. But it isn’t. They want to extend daytime flying hours and allow more planes to fly at night.

"The least they could do is to properly assess the harm that all those extra flights would cause. This report reveals just how little they care.”

The LBA spokesman said the initial response from Natural England was "part and parcel" of the planning process and it was standard for public bodies who are routinely consulted on applications to request additional information before giving their final advice.

He said work would now be undertaken to gather all the information requested so that it could be properly considered by Natural England and councillors.

Also in news: Leeds Bradford Airport consultation extended as support group claim airport is 'unreasonably targeted'

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty. So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004.

Thank you

Laura Collins, editor

More on this: We're there with you - now your YEP needs your support too