Teesside Airport expansion plans to go ahead

An expansion of Teesside Airport has been approved.

Darlington Council's planning committee agreed to the £25m aircraft maintenance site which applicant Willis Aviation said would create up to 300 jobs.

Fifteen objections were received from residents who expressed concern over the size of the five hangars and the proximity to their homes.

Conservative councillor Gerald Lee, who supported the proposal, said it would "open Darlington to the world".

The new facility will be built on land to the west of the main terminal building, originally earmarked for 350 homes before it was bought as part of a deal to bring the airport back into public ownership in 2019.

Some residents objected to the plans for the hangars, set to be built 200m (656ft) away from some gardens, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Teesside Airport forms part of the region's Freeport, with the latest plans forming part of its expansion.

Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said the decision was "another big step forward" for the airport.

"I have always said that for our airport to truly flourish, it must be about more than just holiday flights - and we are delivering just that," he said.

"Willis is making a huge commitment to Teesside and today marks another great leap in securing our airport's future."

The airport suffered a number of blows in 2022 when Loganair pulled a route to Heathrow, and announced it was to scrap its flights to Belfast and Dublin later this month due to "low levels" of demand.

Labour councillor Ian Haszeldine questioned the need for the development because of the loss of potential agricultural land.

"This could be potentially life-saving land in two years' time," he said.

"I'm not against it I just think it's in the wrong place and the wrong size," he said.

Despite concerns, the proposal was voted to go ahead.

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