Decision to remove Belfast City Airport passenger cap quashed
26.10.11
A decision to lift the cap on passenger numbers at Belfast City Airport has been quashed at the High Court. Limits set at two million seats for sale in any year are to be reinstated after successful legal challenges against the move, announced by former Environment Minister Edwin Poots.
Rival Belfast International Airport (BIA) brought judicial review proceedings against removing the controversial restriction. It was claimed that the decision announced last December by the then minister was unlawful and failed to take into consideration environmental implications.
A further challenge centred on claims that the seats restriction was lifted without checking whether there was an effective noise control system and an improved noise management system in place at the City Airport. A residents' group, Belfast City Airport Watch Ltd, also issued similar proceedings against the department.
High Court orders confirming the outcome were made after the department conceded both cases ahead of a scheduled full hearing. Court orders now made in the cases have quashed the decision to lift the cap. As a result the revised planning agreement which removed the restriction has been declared of no force or effect.
A spokesperson for the airport said that they would ‘continue to work closely with the department to agree a noise contour and to engage in a process to modify our existing planning agreement.’ A spokesperson for Belfast International Airport welcomed the High Court decision.
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