Solihull Council's planning sub committee has agreed to grant planning permission for a proposed extension to the runway at Birmingham Airport, subject to a package of conditions and obligations.

However the decision is subject to a revised 106 agreement being taken back to the planning sub committee at a future meeting for a full discussion, to ensure the conditions fully mitigate any negative impact and ensure the delivery of benefits to local people.

The Secretary of State will now be notified of the decision and will decide whether she wishes to intervene in the decision making process.

The application was to extend the runway by 405 metres. It also included the building of a new air traffic control tower, and the realignment of the A45 through a tunnel for vehicles.

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Members agreed that any 106 agreement should serve to protect local residents from the effects of increased noise, impose a restriction of the numbers of air traffic movements, improve public transport, landscape improvements, ecology, air quality, employment and tourism.

Chairman of the Planning Sub Committee Stuart Davis, said: "Taking this application as a whole, we felt there were enormous benefits in allowing this to go ahead so long as we could mitigate any negative impacts. It is vital that our residents are protected from the impact of noise and an increase in traffic, and that the local environment is not adversely affected. We have a duty to our residents, and by taking another look at the 106 agreement, we will be able to come to an agreement that benefits and protects all concerned.

"We feel that the expansion of the runway will have a tremendously positive impact on the local economy, bringing in over 2,100 jobs and around £113m income. There will be a positive impact on tourism, on culture, and will be good not just for the local area but the whole region."

(CD/JM)