Bristol Airport’s proposal to extend its runway for transatlantic flights has ignited fierce opposition due to plans to install landing lights on Felton Common, a treasured local nature reserve and ancient communal land.
The airport is set to launch a six-week public consultation starting November 7, aiming to refine its plans. However, critics have condemned the proposal as an unacceptable infringement on protected green space.
Last year, Bristol Airport revealed a ‘Master Plan’ to increase annual passenger capacity from 12 million to 15 million, with a longer runway facilitating new routes to America and the Middle East. Although a formal planning application to North Somerset Council was expected in 2025, airport officials have yet to submit it.
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Opposition groups, particularly the Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN), accuse the airport of neglecting a critical safety detail—relocating the approach landing lights required for runway extension toward the A38 road. BAAN called this omission a ‘shocking oversight’ that has delayed the planning process.
The airport has now confirmed the need to move the approach lighting onto Felton Common, a space owned by Winford Parish Council. Felton Common is more than a green open area; it contains scheduled ancient monuments, serves as a local nature reserve, and includes grazing rights historically used by locals.
To accommodate the new lighting system and associated safety fencing, a portion of Felton Common would be fenced off and enclosed. Bristol Airport insists that while this will reduce accessible open space and affect grazing rights, equivalent land will be made available nearby to maintain public access.
A spokesperson emphasized the airport’s commitment to safety and compliance with Civil Aviation Authority standards, explaining the lights are essential for enabling safe takeoff and landing of long-haul flights. The airport plans to engage with local residents and those with grazing rights throughout the consultation period.
Despite these assurances, campaigners remain deeply concerned. BAAN portrays the plan as a “corporate land grab” compromising community space and local wildlife. Richard Baxter of BAAN stated, “Felton residents shouldn’t face reduced community space or increased light pollution because the airport failed to plan properly. This only raises questions about what else the Master Plan might be hiding.”
BAAN’s research indicates the lighting system will involve bright white lights spaced 30 meters apart, extending over 250 meters—roughly the length of Bristol’s Park Street—along with a tall security fence restricting access.
Further worries include potential environmental and health impacts; the adjusted flight path could increase air turbulence, which has already reportedly damaged local homes. Felton Common, spanning about 100 acres, is a cherished public retreat, a protected conservation area, and significant archaeological site. Over the last two decades, more than 400 acres of surrounding green belt land have been repurposed for airport use, amplifying local concerns about continued expansion.
As the consultation opens, local residents and environmentalists urge the airport to reconsider or provide alternatives that protect Felton Common’s heritage and community value.