Airport terminal expansion plan approved

The committee approved the airport's application with eight councillors in favour and one opposed

An airport's plan to expand its terminal buildings to deal with increasing passenger numbers and improve their experience has been approved by councillors.

Bournemouth Airport said the new buildings were designed to "blend seamlessly" on the current site.

In its application to BCP Council, the airport said it "cannot accommodate the facilities required to provide an excellent passenger experience".

The authority's eastern planning committee approved the application with eight councillors in favour and one opposed.

Steve Gill, the airport's managing director, told the committee the expansion would be of "vital regional importance".

He added: "Aviation is a very competitive industry and unless we are able to provide the right level of choice and associated service, we risk losing the benefits we've achieved over recent years and opportunities associated with this project."

The committee was told the airport currently has permission to accommodate three million passengers a year. Last year it said it expected to serve about a third of that.

Committee member Lawrence Williams said passing the plan was a "no brainer" and that people would travel to other airports if it was not approved.

Felicity Rice, who opposed the plan, said insufficient evidence had been presented about the airport's impact on climate change.