Bristol Airport says plans to extend its runway to accommodate long-haul aircraft will include taking over a a small section of open access land.
The development would see landing lights and fencing installed on a small section of Felton Common, at the eastern edge of the runway, so it can handle larger long-haul planes needed for transatlantic flights.
A public consultation will open this week, but campaign group Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN) has described the plans as “unacceptable”.
A Bristol Airport spokesman said: “We realise how important the open space is to local people, and so we are consulting with those with rights on the common, users of the common and local residents.”
“We would encourage people to find out more about our proposal and provide any feedback they might have to help shape our plans.”
Richard Baxter, a local environmental campaigner speaking for BAAN, said: “Felton residents shouldn’t have their community space reduced and their homes and wildlife facing such intense light pollution just to spare the airport its blushes for forgetting about the safe landing of its long-haul flights.”
Last year, the airport announced its ‘Masterplan to 2040‘, detailing its long-term vision to provide long-haul flights to destinations such as the Middle East and the east coast of America.
However, BAAN has claimed that the airport’s plans did not take into account the need for approach landing lights, which are an essential safety feature.
Since publishing the master plan, the airport said it has has continued to refine its design to ensure it meets all relevant safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Authority, the UK’s independent regulator for aviation.
In order for the runway to continue operating safely, for all types of aircraft and in all weather conditions, the airport said it would need to relocate the existing approach lighting and install additional safety features at the end of the runway.
BAAN said their research suggests the new approach on Felton Common would be a row of bright white elevated lights placed 30 metres apart and 250 metres long (820ft) – roughly equivalent to the length of Park Street in Bristol.
Bristol Airport said people will still be able to continue to use all of the bridleways on the common and that care has been taken to maintain access across the green space.
As the enclosed lighting would result in some loss of accessible open space and affect grazing rights, the airport said replacement land would be provided adjacent to the area.
The six-week consultation will open on Friday 7 November and close on Friday 19 December, with the feedback from the public collated ahead of a possible planning application in early 2026.
