THE expansion of Southend Airport will not go ahead without the authorisation of a Government minister, it has been announced

Communities Secretary John Denham has issued an Article 14 Direction about the planning application to extend the runway at London Southend Airport.

The effect of the direction is to prevent Southend Council granting planning permission on the application without his authorisation.

The application will still be considered at Development Control Committee at 2pm tomorrow.

If the committee decides to approve the application this decision will be frozen until either:

  • The Secretary of State decides that he will not intervene and sends the application back to the council, in which case the decision notice will be issued
  • the Secretary of State decides to call-in the application for his determination, in which case there will be a Public Inquiry.

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