Plans have been unveiled for the future expansion of Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA).

The updated Airport Master Plan details a proposed expansion of the terminal building, additional car parking, passenger facilities including hotels, retail, food and drink services and a potential extension of the runway.

In addition, there is potential to grow cargo operations at LJLA, to attract specialist aviation businesses and to develop a cluster of related high quality employment opportunities. The investments will also potentially increased total annual GVA impact to £625 million, enabling to support 12,280 jobs across the City Region by 2030.

Environmental effects are also considered and the plan includes measures to ensure that adverse impacts are identified and wherever possible mitigated. Other features include creating new employment space and an extension to the existing Speke Garston Coastal Reserve along the Mersey shoreline.

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With passenger numbers expected to grow to 7.8 million by 2030, and to 11 million by 2050, Strategy Director Mark Povall said the plans "will help LJLA to maximise its contribution to the regeneration and renaissance of Liverpool as an international city" as well as playing a "key role in the economic growth of the Liverpool City Region and across the Northern Powerhouse".

"We aim to be the Airport of choice for business and leisure travellers from across the North West and North Wales by growing the range of destinations, expanding our passenger facilities and continuing to offer a Faster Easier Friendlier service to all our customers," he said.

"Through our growth we also want to continue to be good neighbours. We are holding a series of consultation events to explain the physical changes proposed under the Master Plan to 2050, and to reassure communities that noise controls and improvements in airline technology, will ensure an overall reduction in the areas impacted by noise from airport operations.

"We hope to listen to the views of local residents, passengers and stakeholders who will benefit or be impacted by our future plans. All comments made during the consultation period will be carefully considered and will inform the final Master Plan, which we hope to publish later this year."

(LM/MH)