LBA appeals decisions to restrict 'nightmare' night flights

The appeals made today come in the wake of Leeds City Council announcing last week that it had rejected the third of LBA’s controversial proposals, known as a CLEUD, which would have allowed older and noisier aircraft to operate at night.

LBA recognises the public interest in the matter and therefore has requested the appeals are heard by the Planning Inspectorate at a public inquiry.

The news also comes on a day when campaigners protested and called on international ban on night time flights.

Vincent Hodder, CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “Today we have submitted three appeals with the Planning Inspectorate against the non-determination and refusal by Leeds City Council (LCC) of LBA’s CLEUD (Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing Use or Development) applications made in December 2023.

“To be clear, LBA isn’t looking to secure a new planning consent, amend the current conditions or operate an unlimited number of night flights but after a much extended decision-making period and significant level of public interest, we have requested a public inquiry which will allow an informed decision to be made by an independent third party on the correct legal interpretation of the existing planning conditions governing the operation of night flights at LBA.

“In the meantime, we have and will continue to operate in accordance with our interpretation of the planning conditions.”

“The purpose of the existing planning consent when granted was to allow night flights but minimise the potential for increased noise of those flights on local communities.

“Our interpretation of the conditions stays true to this purpose and would encourage airlines to deploy the latest generation of aircraft which are quieter and more efficient.

“We want to meet the demand for international connectivity that exists in the region and play our part in driving economic growth in Yorkshire.

“We are investing over £200 million of private money into improving our passenger experience, creating up to 5,500 new jobs in the region and adding nearly £1 billion to the growth of the UK economy in the process.”

Campaigners from GALBA held a protest today calling for an international ban on night flights (Image: GALBA/Neil Terry Photography)

This morning, campaigners from the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) joined an international day of protest calling for a ban on night flights.

Holding pillows spelling out ‘NO MORE NIGHT FLIGHTS’ and wearing pyjamas, they gathered in front of Leeds Civic Hall to highlight the damage that night flying does to human health, air quality and the climate.

Local resident Nicky Ford, who lives on the fight path, said: “Night flights are a nightmare. My house is directly under the flight path and the noise is unbearable. The planes wake me up all the time - it’s really bad for my health.

“The World Health Organisation says that night time noise is related to all kinds of serious illnesses.

“Here in Leeds, the airport is allowed to fly thousands of planes at night every year. That’s bad news for people like me who live under the flight path but what’s worse is that LBA has flown hundreds more planes than allowed.”

More than 70 organisations across the world have declared September 13 as the "International Day for a Ban on Night Flights at Airports".

The declaration they have signed states: ‘Take-offs and landings during the night are an unreasonable burden with particularly harmful health consequences for all people in the vicinity of airports. They are unnecessary and avoidable.’ On Friday, September 6, Leeds City Council rejected the third of LBA’s four CLEUD applications.

Prior to LBA’s appeals today, GALBA campaigner Ian Coatman said: “We’re pleased that Leeds City Council has rejected yet another attempt by LBA to change the rules and we urge the Council to reject LBA’s final CLEUD application as quickly as possible.

“It’s obvious what LBA are doing - instead of sticking to the rules that exist to protect our health, they want to change those rules. That’s not fair and it’s not safe for the people of Leeds.”