Coventry Airport is to appeal last month”s decision by UK government ministers who rejected its plans for a new permanent passenger terminal that could double passenger figures.
”Our legal team has advised us that the decision is seriously flawed in law,” said airport managing director, Chris Orphanou, adding: ”We will be seeking a new inquiry.”
Although operations director Mike Morton would not reveal details as to why the decision is legally flawed, he did tell ABTN that the airport hopes to have its appeal expedited within a year and a final decision reached in 18 months to two years.
The proposed terminal building would cost approximately ”10m-”15m ($21m-$31m), cover 10,250sq m (33,630sq ft) and cater for up to 2m passengers a year, replacing the current interim property of 500sq m (without piers) which has capacity for less than half that and serves 0.98m annually.
Orphanou stressed the need for a larger airport in the near future: ”Coventry is a major city with ambitious plans. Tens of thousands of new homes will be built in the next few years. New jobs are essential and Coventry deserves a successful airport.
”The airport can play a major part in the economic regeneration of Coventry and provide a cost-effective use of resources for customers who would otherwise have to travel to airports as far away as Stansted.”
Proximity to Birmingham airport, lack of adequate public transport, pressure on the local community and noise pollution were some of the reasons given for the government”s refusal, said Morton.
Coventry says it is committed to tackling the various issues raised, with initiatives such as sound insulation in surrounding properties, an on-site noise monitoring system, improved bus timetable for journeys between the terminal, local bus and train stations and car sharing schemes to limit traffic to and from the airport.
”We will never stop trying to do our utmost for our neighbours, community and to work with local partners in order to find solutions to any of their concerns,” said Orphanou.