Reeves changes mind over Leeds airport expansion

The Chancellor has said she would now support the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), saying "the way we fly has changed".

As Leeds West MP, Reeves had opposed proposals for a new terminal at the Yorkshire site over environmental and noise concerns.

On Wednesday, Reeves announced the government's backing of a third runway at London Heathrow and the re-opening of the Doncaster Sheffield airport, citing the progress of "sustainable aviation" since the pandemic.

In 2022, LBA's £150m scheme to develop a new terminal was abandoned over planning delays, in favour of an earlier proposal to regenerate the current terminal.

Speaking in Yorkshire following the government decision to back a third runway at Heathrow, the chancellor said "sustainable aviation and economic growth go hand-in-hand".

She defended her previous position of opposing the Leeds Bradford expansion, insisting "a lot has changed since 2020 when those plans last came forward - no one was flying because it was during the pandemic, but also the way we fly has changed".

She added: "Engines have become more efficient, and sustainable aviation fuel means we can reduce the carbon emissions from flying.

"Sustainable aviation fuel reduces carbon emissions by 70% and that mandate came in at the beginning of this year," she said, on Thursday.

The Leeds West and Pudsey MP also highlighted the benefits the Heathrow expansion would have on the rest of the UK "because the availability of slots at Heathrow is good for regional airports wanting to connect with the rest of the world".

Leeds Bradford Airport first put forward plans for a new terminal five years ago, as part of its bid to increase passenger numbers at the airport to seven million by 2030.

A planning application was approved by the council in February 2021, despite objections by campaigners and local MPs - including Reeves, then the member for Leeds West.

"It is clear that an increase in both flights and passenger numbers would undermine vital efforts to ensure Leeds upholds its commitments to be carbon neutral by 2030," she said, at the time.

The expansion proposals were eventually withdrawn in 2022, with airport bosses citing "excessive delays" prompted by local concern over increased aircraft movements - particularly at night - and the decision to refer the scheme to the Secretary of State for a public inquiry.

Airport bosses instead turned their attention to extending the existing terminal, plans for which were approved by Leeds City Council in 2019.

Work began on the project in 2023 and includes the construction of a 102,000 sq ft (9,500 sq m), three-storey extension.

The Chief Executive of LBA, Vincent Hodder, has welcomed the government's decision to back expansion at Heathrow. He believes it is "positive for the UK in general" and aviation more widely.

"The Chancellor's announcement yesterday, and her comments today, voices positive support for the aviation industry as a whole," said Mr Hodder.

"We've now got a government who understands the role of aviation as an economic accelerator, and are willing to stand behind it and support sustainable growth.

"Here at LBA, we're looking forward to working in collaboration with our government, our airline partners and our community to ensure we're delivering the world-class facilities Yorkshire deserves."

However, campaigners protesting the development of Leeds Bradford Airport have contested the chancellor's claims over the link between aviation and economic growth.

Ian Coatman, secretary for GALBA - a group of campaigners based in West Yorkshire who are against the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport - said: "Claims made about airport expansion being good for the economy are overstated.

"Flights for business purposes fell by nearly a third between 2019 and 2023, with 3.9 million fewer business trips made - and yet the economy grew by 1.8% over the same period."

He said any government investment would be better spent on renewable energy.

"I know the government is investing in renewable energy - like wind farms - and that is good news. Surely it's better to do more of that than cause more climate pollution by letting airports expand?

"It's a lot quicker to create good jobs in renewable energy than by building a new runway."