\n Leeds City Council has issued a Certificate of Lawful Existing Use confirming that up to 941 annual night-time movements by aircraft below 87 EPNdB are lawful at the Yeadon airport.\n<\/p>\n
\n The decision, dated May 13, 2026, relates to operations carried out under a planning permission granted in 2007. However, the authority ruled there was insufficient evidence to support the airport\u2019s wider claim that an unlimited number of such flights should be considered lawful.\n<\/p>\n
\n In its decision notice, the council said the submitted material \u201cdoes not demonstrate on the balance of probabilities the lawful operation of unlimited aircraft movements\u201d during night-time hours. Instead, it concluded historic usage supports a cap of 941 flights per calendar year.\n<\/p>\n
\n The certificate, issued under Section 191 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, does not grant new planning permission but confirms a specific level of use as legally established and therefore immune from enforcement.\n<\/p>\n
\n While the ruling gives the airport formal planning protection for that level of night activity, any increase beyond it could require further approval or risk enforcement action.\n<\/p>\n
\n The application relates specifically to quieter aircraft not already exempt under an existing condition controlling night flights at the site.\n<\/p>\n
\n Leeds Bradford Airport welcomed the decision, saying it provides clarity on its operations and confirms compliance with existing limits.\n<\/p>\n
\n A spokesperson said: \u201cWe are pleased with the decision by Leeds City Council, which confirms our long-held position that LBA has operated responsibly and in full compliance with night flight regulations over the last three years.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThis decision provides much-needed certainty for our partners, our passengers, and the local community.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n The airport added the outcome confirmed it had not breached movement limits in 2023, 2024 or 2025, and said it would continue working with the council \u201cto develop a sustainable long-term framework\u201d for flights.\n<\/p>\n
\n LBA said it remains committed to reducing noise through its \u201cTogether for Tomorrow\u201d strategy, including working with airlines to introduce quieter, more fuel-efficient aircraft.\n<\/p>\n
\n The decision is likely to feed into ongoing debates around airport expansion and noise, with campaigners frequently raising concerns about night-time operations.\n<\/p>\n
\n Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) has long campaigned against night flights (Image: submitted)\n<\/p>\n
\n Local Liberal Democrat councillor Sandy Lay (Otley and Yeadon) said many residents would feel frustrated by the outcome.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cAs someone who lives under the flight path, I understand the frustration and disappointment many residents will feel,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cAt the same time, I remain supportive of Leeds Bradford Airport and recognise the important role it plays in the local economy, jobs, holiday travel and connectivity.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Councillor Lay said he was disappointed the issue had arisen following the airport\u2019s original application and a Planning Inspector\u2019s ruling that newer, quieter aircraft were not covered by existing permissions.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThat decision effectively brought the matter back before the council to determine, which they have done recognising their legal responsibilities,\u201d he added.\n<\/p>\n
\n He welcomed the rejection of the airport\u2019s bid for unlimited movements but warned the approved level remained significant.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cAn additional 941 aircraft movements per year is still considerable, particularly for residents affected by night-time operations,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWhile the aircraft may be quieter than older models, many residents will still be concerned about the cumulative impact over time. I would urge the airport to exercise restraint and remain mindful of the disruption experienced by local communities.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n The applicant has the right to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate if it disputes the council\u2019s refusal to certify unlimited use.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Leeds City Council has issued a Certificate of Lawful Existing Use confirming that up to 941 annual night-time…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":940779,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8814],"tags":[748,393,4884,1860,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-957648","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leeds","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-leeds","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116568828776288785","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/957648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=957648"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/957648\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/940779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=957648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=957648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=957648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}