Last updated at 12:10, Thursday, 31 January 2013

Carlisle Airport

A multi-million pound redevelopment will now go ahead after Carlisle City Council granted approval.

Stobart Group wants to build a freight-distribution centre and resurface the runway in readiness for scheduled flights to London and Dublin.

Councillors backed the scheme in principle last summer but were asked to reconsider their decision in the light of “new information”.

Councillors reconvened today to resumed their discussions which ground to a halt again on Friday after a last minute legal submission by objectors.

Irthington farmer Gordon Brown, who persuaded the Court of Appeal to quash an earlier consent, had thrown a spanner in the works last week.

City councillors had been expected to confirm their in-principle decision last August to allow Stobart Group to build a 394,000sq ft freight-distribution centre and resurface the runway for scheduled flights.

Councillors decided to reconvene today to give their officers time to respond to Mr Brown’s latest objections.

Now after hearing from officers who have studied Mr Brown's submission councillors have given their approval for the redevelopment plans to go ahead.

The decision is subject to Section 106 approval.

Objectors to the £25 million scheme are now considering whether to seek a judicial review.

More follows.

First published at 10:48, Thursday, 31 January 2013
Published by http://www.in-cumbria.com