Multi-million pound Leeds Bradford Airport regeneration work to start

LBA owners said the plan would give Yorkshire the airport it had been "waiting for"

Work on a £100m regeneration of the terminal building at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) is due to begin before the end of the year.

The project includes the construction of a 102,000 sq ft (9,500 sq m) three-storey extension to the existing building, its owners said.

In 2022, £150m plans for a new terminal were abandoned over planning delays.

Its owners instead went back to an earlier proposal to extend the terminal for which they had planning consent.

The regeneration project had the potential to create 1,500 direct new jobs at LBA and 4,000 indirect jobs, while contributing £940m to the local economy, they said.

The plans would offer passengers a better experience, LBA owners said

Vincent Hodder, LBA's chief executive, said the project would be the beginning of a "new era" for the airport.

"This investment will give us the infrastructure needed to deliver an outstanding customer experience, support the growth of our airline partners, enhance connectivity for business, investment and trade and provide the airport that Leeds, Bradford and Yorkshire have been waiting for," he said.

In addition to the new extension, the existing building would also be refurbished and there would be more airport stands, LBA's owners said.

There would be more seating, faster security and new shops and restaurants, they added.

Analysis: Spencer Stokes, Business and Transport Correspondent, BBC Yorkshire

An extension to Leeds Bradford Airport's terminal building was originally granted planning permission in 2019, but the project was soon abandoned after the airport's owners decided to pursue a more ambitious course, outlining a scheme that would have seen a new terminal constructed.

It soon ran into planning difficulties because it involved increased aircraft movements, particularly at night. The scheme was referred to the Secretary of State for a public inquiry, but the airport then withdrew the application in early 2022.

The airport say the revived terminal extension plan from 2019 offers most of the benefits of a new terminal.

The airport is still aiming to serve seven million passengers by 2030 and is currently consulting with Leeds City Council about the rules concerning how many flights it can operate at night.

A larger baggage reclaim and immigration hall were also included in the plans, along with improved access for people with restricted mobility.

New heating, lighting and machinery would also help plans to decarbonise its operations, LBA said.

Campaigners said the extension does not allow the airport to increase yearly passenger numbers above 5m

Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (Galba) said it had no objection to the terminal upgrade in a way that reduced its carbon footprint.

"The terminal only accounts for around 2% of all greenhouse gas emissions associated with the airport," said the group's chair Chris Foren."Flights cause the overwhelming majority of LBA's climate damaging greenhouse gas emissions."

Mr Foren said the planning permission did not permit LBA to increase passenger numbers above 5m a year and it did not permit an increase in the number of night flights.

"Galba will continue to oppose any plans to increase the number of flights from LBA because of the extremely negative impact this would have on the climate, noise levels and air pollution," he added.

The airport said the work was expected to be completed in early 2026.