Engineering employers say 拢130m scheme will boost local economy

Plans to expand the runway at Birmingham international airport have been given the green light by local councillors.

Solihull Council's planning committee gave the go-ahead to the 拢130m scheme, which will extend the runway by 400m towards Bickenhill and Hampton-in-Arden.

The project aims to boost the number of larger aircraft and non-stop flights to the US and Asia that are able to make use of the airport.

The decision was welcomed by the Engineering Employers' Federation, which said the expansion will provide 鈥渁 much needed boost鈥� for the local economy and will help businesses in the Midlands compete more effectively with their London rivals.

But the Green Party slammed the move as a 鈥渄isastrous decision鈥� which would have a 鈥渃atastrophic and inexcusable impact on climate change鈥�.

Plans for a second runway at the airport were shelved in September last year.

Topics