Stobart Air revises Carlisle Airport plans

Stobart Air - the owner and operator of Carlisle Airport - has submitted a new planning application to develop the site. Andrew Tinkler, Stobart Group chief executive, decided to scrap a previous £35m scheme for a new runway, hangars, terminal, offices and warehousing after it was called in for a public inquiry in June.

Under the latest proposals, which will be considered by Carlisle City Council, there are no plans to replace the runway - which instead will be improved to an "acceptable standard" - and no requirement to chop down trees in a nearby wood. The plans also include a main building that is 30% smaller.

A spokesman for Stobart Air says the company will arrange public meetings to discuss the plans with interested individuals and groups. Richard Gordon, manager at Carlisle Airport, hopes the revised plans will avoid the need for a public inquiry. He adds: "The new application is materially different from that which was withdrawn at the end of June.

"However its ultimate two-fold objectives remain the same: to create a new base for the Eddie Stobart and Stobart Rail operations currently based in Kingstown. "In parallel, a binding commitment is being given to improve the existing aviation facilities at the airport to the required Civil Aviation Authority standards capable of attracting commercial airline operations to provide passenger flights from Carlisle."