Proposals for development at Carlisle Airport will be supported where they are related to airport activities and in scale with the existing infrastructure and minimise any adverse impact on the surrounding environment. Proposals for larger scale redevelopment to facilitate an improved commercial operation will have to take into account the impact of development on uses outside the perimeter of the airport including nature conservation interests, the historic environment including Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site, the existing highway network and road safety. A strategic employment site has been allocated in Proposal EC20.
2.31 A draft development brief was prepared in 1999 to look at the future requirements for airport and related development. Since the preparation of the brief the airport has transferred ownership from the City Council. In addition, the Department of Transport has undertaken a national consultation on the future of air transportation. This was followed by the publication of the Aviation White Paper which states about Carlisle Airport:
“ 8 .24. Although Carlisle is not currently a significant commercial airport, it has had commercial services in the past and plans have been put forward to invest in the airport with a view to providing new commercial flights serving Cumbria and the southern parts of Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders Services from Carlisle Airport would assist economic growth in the areas within its potential catchment and in particular would improve access for high spending in bound tourists to the Lake District and the South West of Scotland"
2.32 To enable a co-ordinated approach for planning and investment, a Masterplan is currently being prepared which examines the options for airport related development to facilitate commercial operations.
