Opposition grows against Liverpool Airport’s £100m expansion

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Liverpool City Council last night took a step towards “removing financial support” for the airport amid concerns about its proposed expansion and the impact that it would have on the environment and surrounding Green Belt. 

Last night, councillors backed a motion to explore the processes for removing the financial support it provides to Liverpool John Lennon Airport in protest against a proposed £100m expansion.

The city council owns a 10% stake in the airport but it is unclear what is meant by “financial support”. Peel Group and Ancala Partners own 45% each. 

It is also unclear what measures the city council could take to fight the expansion, aside from blocking planning applications and reviewing how some land around the airport is allocated in the local plan.

The motion was put forward by Green Party councillor Anna Key who said growing the airport would go against the city council’s aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. 

The airport hopes its expansion strategy could boost passenger numbers to 7.8m by 2030 by facilitating an increased number of flights. 

More than 5m passengers travelled through the airport in 2018 and 2019. However, in 2020 the pandemic limited the number of passengers to 1.34m. 

Plans for the expansion of the airport feature: 

  • Creation of a new road to serve the airport 
  • A large distribution or warehousing facility on land to the south of the airport 
  • Expansion and improvement of existing terminal and airport facilities 
  • Lengthening the runway 
  • A solar farm capable of offsetting 2.5m kWH’s of electricity each year.

The airport currently contributes £250m to the Liverpool economy annually but this could rise to £625m if the expansion goes ahead, the airport claims. 

Liverpool John Lennon Airport declined to comment.