Alex Sobel has asked the Government to call in the decision to approve the new terminal building at Leeds Bradford Airport.
The MP, who represents the constituency where the Airport sits and is well known for his work on climate issues, has asked for the decision made by the Leeds City Council Plans panel to approve the new Terminal and extension of flights to be called-in by the Government.
If the call in is accepted the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick would be required to instruct the Planning Inspectorate to setup an Inquiry on the decision made last month and ratified yesterday by the cross party plans panel on a split decision.
Alex Sobel said “ I have requested that the split decision of the cross party plans panel to grant the new terminal and extend flight times at Leeds Bradford Airport be called in by the Government.
This application was predicated on an expansion of flights equating to 3 million more passengers annually which is not in keeping with the sixth and subsequent UK carbon budgets which calls for no net increase in aviation emissions, nor is it in keeping with the recent Heathrow judgement in the Supreme Court.
I do not believe that a local plans panel of 14 councillors is in any way a competent body to be making a decision of this significance. Applications which significantly affect the Carbon Budget must be made nationally. We need a national aviation plan and significant measures to reduce net emissions from UK flights.
I look forward to seeing these in the Government’s response to the Committee on Climate Change’s Sixth Carbon Budget Report.”
Alex’s work on climate issues is extensive and has included being a former Vice-Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee and founder and Chair of the Net Zero All Party Group. Alex was also awarded the MP Local Climate Champion Green Heart Award by the Climate Coalition in 2020.