WINCHESTER City Council is still likely to object against the expansion of Southampton Airport – despite the application being updated recently.

An environmental statement has been added to the plans, which details the tests that will need to be completed before work begins.

Civic chiefs are still revising this information – but are unlikely to chance their stance.

Cllr Jackie Porter said: "A provisional assessment has been undertaken by our Environmental Protection Officers and the advice is that the updates do not overcome original concerns with the proposals in relation to noise impact.

"I do not therefore envisage that the City Council will withdraw its objection to the proposed development on carbon and noise grounds but a formal response to Eastleigh Borough Council will be made by November 20."

The plans are to construct a 164-metre runway extension at the northern end of the existing runway.

Cllr Porter added: "Our officers are currently assessing this additional information. As an adjoining local authority the council was originally consulted on the planning application to extend the runway and objected to the development on January 22 on the grounds that the development would increase carbon emissions and have harmful noise impacts on the residents of Winchester.

"The economic benefits of the application did not outweigh the harm caused."

Proposals are set to go before an Eastleigh Borough Council committee on December 17.

"The updated information is centred around noise and providing an alternative scenario relating to the use of the airport based on approximately three million passengers per annum and the data that sits behind this.

"This information wasn’t the subject of an EIA Regulation 25 request made by Eastleigh Borough Council.

"It has however been the subject of discussion between the airport and Eastleigh and is a response to the different circumstances that the airport now faces in light of Covid and the demise of Flybe."