A NEW 800-space car park for Manchester Airport looks set to be built in Styal after bosses convinced councillors they need it at the second attempt.

At last month’s meeting, Cheshire East Council’s northern planning committee refused to give Manchester Airport permission for the car park until they had heard a better explanation of why it was needed and why it could not be built elsewhere.

But after sending a written statement to CEC and explaining its position again at Wednesday’s meeting, Manchester Airport’s plans were given the go-ahead.

John Twigg, the airport’s planning director, told the committee that 27,000 off-site parking spaces – not run by the airport – had been lost over the past 20 years, and suggested the new car park would be better for the environment than ‘kiss and fly’ drop-offs.

He added: “Car parking is always a delicate balance between developing in line with our sustainability strategy, while fulfilling our role as the north’s international gateway and meeting the needs of the 30 million customers who rely on us.

“Key to that balance is reducing ‘kiss and fly’ and taxi use, which generate twice as many trips as parking on-site and are the biggest contributors to congestion, air pollution and carbon emissions.

“But that means having sufficient, competitively-priced parking on-site to meet peak demand and compete with taxi fares, alongside the significant investment we have made in public transport services for those customers who can take advantage of them.”

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The car park is in the final remaining section of Manchester Airport’s operational area within Cheshire East – although it sits in Styal’s green belt.

In a statement read out on his behalf, Conservative Cllr Don Stockton said he ‘entirely understands the concern’ regarding the development, but hoped the new site would reduce the need for private car parks elsewhere in the village.

Cllr Ron Dixon, chairman of Styal Parish Council, admitted that off-site car parks cause ‘considerable feeling in the village’, but urged the committee to reject the plans over road safety and environmental concerns.

“Most of the world now recognises the issues facing our planet and a need to reduce our carbon footprint,” he said.

“This development will do nothing to help achieve a carbon reduction.

“If the application is supported, the damage will be done and will be irreparable.”

During the debate, Conservative Cllr Andrew Gregory echoed concerns about the green belt being developed – and suggested the airport would need to expand its car parking again following its expansion of Terminal 2.

He said: “Sooner or later someone has to make a stand – and frankly, what is in it for CEC, given that this is a council committed to combatting climate change?”

But most members accepted the need for the car park – with Conservative Cllr Steven Edgar insisting the airport had ‘made the case’ for it.

He added: “If it is not approved, cars will still arrive and need to be put somewhere.”

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The planning application was recommended for approval by six votes to three with one abstention.

A final decision will be made by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

If approved, the car park will operate 24 hours a day, and customers will be able to board buses between the site and the terminals.