Belfast City Airport Planning Agreement Modification Process

The current 1997 Planning Agreement between the Department for the Environment and George Best Belfast City Airport (GBBCA) was modified in 2008 following an Examination in Public.  Restrictions currently in place relate to the hours the Airport can operate, the number of aircraft movements and the number of seats that can be offered for sale in any period of 12 months.  The Agreement also contains obligations in relation to delayed aircraft, aircraft types, aircraft approaches to the airport, noise contour monitoring and an integrated noise and track keeping system.

The Minister for the Environment announced on 30^th September 2011 that he had initiated a public process to resolve the issue of noise management at the airport.

GBBCA has now submitted a request to the Department to vary the terms of their Planning Agreement under Article 40A(1)(a) of the Planning (NI) Order 1991.  The Airport has requested that the Seats for Sale restriction is removed from the Agreement and replaced with a noise contour control cap and other noise control measures. The request includes economic and environmental appraisals with other supporting information.

The Department has agreed to consider this request in principle under Article 40A(1)(a) of the Planning (NI) Order 1991, subject to the outcome of a public consultation process and an independent public examination. The Department will consider all the representations received in the consultation process and the independent report of the examination before making a recommendation to the Environment Minister on if and how the Agreement should be modified. The Minister’s objective for this process is the establishment of an effective noise management system at the Airport which achieves the right balance between the socio-economic benefits of airport expansion with the need to protect the environment and quality of life for the surrounding community.

The Request document and supporting information can be accessed using the link below or may be examined during normal office hours at the Belfast Area Planning Office, Bedford House, Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7AD (Tel: 0300 200 7830) and at the Strategic Planning Division, Millennium House, 17-25 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7BN (Tel: 028 9041 6700).  It is advisable to make an appointment before calling at these offices.  Documents can also be purchased from the Airport’s representatives.  

Following the public consultation process on the GBBCA proposals which ended on Friday 8^th June 2012 the Department has now written to PAC requesting a public inquiry.

Use the link below to view submitted representations.