Bristol International Airport's (BIA) multi-million pound expansion plans have moved forward after the local authority recommended the scheme for approval.

North Somerset Council's (NSC) South Area Committee considered the airport's planning application on 3 March, which will now go before the authority's main planning and regulatory committee for a final decision. Plans include expanding the terminal building by 6,700sq m (72,118sq ft) to the east and 3,600sq m (38,750sq ft) to the west in a bid to double the available floor area.

New walkways, bridges and car parks are also included as part of BIA's plans, which will be subject to 69 conditions and the airport and council entering into a legal agreement. The project will also have to be referred to the government due to its impact on green belt land. Meanwhile, Shepway District Council (SDC) has approved proposals to develop Lydd Airport at Romney Marsh, Kent, which will include a 294m (965ft) extension of the runway and a new terminal capable of catering for 500,000 passengers a year.

Jonathan Gordon, the airport's managing director, said: "We put forward a compelling case for allowing the controlled development of the airport and when councillors took stock of the overwhelming body of evidence in front of them, they were persuaded to vote in a positive way." Plans to extend the runway at London Southend Airport in Essex have now been referred to the government after Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's decision to approve the scheme earlier this year.

Image: An artist's impression of how Bristol International Airport will look if expansion plans are approved