UPGRADES needed at the long-serving Walney Airfield are set to get off the ground after town planners gave it the green light.

Last November BAE Systems submitted plans to overhaul their facilities at the Walney site.

The current site was in dire need of improvements after decades of service, and also to bring them in line with modern aviation regulations.

Yesterday the planning committee of Barrow Borough Council met to have their say on the defence giant's development.

BAE have proposed a complete upgrade of the existing site in Walney. They are planning to construct a four aeroplane hangar, a support vehicle garage as well as a terminal building complete with air traffic control tower.

A spokesman from BAE Systems Submarines, said: "We submitted a planning application to replace existing infrastructure that is reaching the end of its working life.

"Developing Walney airfield is part of our future plans."

During the discussion of the proposal Cllr Bill McEwan raised the possible impact such a development would have on residents.

Heavy machinery would travel up and down Red Ley Lane for the duration of the construction.

He said: "Highways are still a problem with it, what has been done?"

Feedback from Cumbria Highways said that there should be a transport assessment to look into the impact the estimated 23 construction vehicle movements per day would have on the area.

In reply, Charles Wilton, planning officer for the council, said: "Out response is that it is not required, it is just replacing two hangars."

The logic behind this decision was as the airfield was only undergoing a face lift, and not an expansion, any additional traffic would only be temporary. Carrying out a traffic assessment would not be necessary, as the excess traffic would only be there for the duration of work.

This is only the fourth development to take place at the airfield since the 1970s.

A small caravan site and office space were approved in 1977 and 1986 respectively, and in 2016, plans were given approval for the construction of a heliport.

A BAE spokesman was keen to stress that the development was an important step for the airfield, updating facilities that are past their prime, and ensuring the airfield is Civil Aviation Authority compliant.

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