A public inquiry is to be held into controversial plans to extend the runway at George Best Belfast City airport, Environment Minister Edwin Poots has announced.
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The proposal to lengthen the runway by nearly 600 metres would allow planes with heavier fuel loads to use the airport, thus opening up the possibility of flights to and from extra destinations in Europe.
But the application has been fiercely opposed by some east Belfast residents who claim noise pollution levels will soar.
Over 1,400 letters of objection along with eight petitions containing 499 signatures have been received, while 2,241 letters of support have also been compiled.
"Having given the application significant consideration, I have decided that the best way forward is by public inquiry," Mr Poots said.
"The application raises matters that may not be resolved through the normal planning process and will remain an issue.
"A public inquiry will provide a forum for the presentation and consideration of these issues."
The Planning Service received submissions from all vested interests while it considered the initial application.
"Because of the significant issues at stake, I have instructed my officials to ask the Planning Appeals Commission to hold a public inquiry and to request that the inquiry is given a high priority," Mr Poots added.
Residents support group, Belfast City Airport Watch, has welcomed Mr Poots' announcement.
"An extended runway would mean an international airport right on Belfast's doorstep," a spokesperson for BCAW said.
"While we had hoped that Mr Poots might have rejected this ludicrous proposal outright, we're very glad that it will now be subjected to robust scrutiny."
Local Alliance and PUP MLAs have also welcomed the move.
"A public inquiry is the best way to ensure that all of the conflicting information and evidence can be openly scrutinised and interrogated, leading to a much more transparent and robust decision," east Belfast Alliance MLA Naomi Long said.
"This is great news for the people of east Belfast", PUP leader Dawn Purvis said.
"It is clear that residents are living with a growing and unacceptable level of noise which the airport refuses to acknowledge or deal with. This inquiry will allow for all the evidence to be seen and heard before a decision is reached - this is a victory for the residents living under the flight path," she added.
Officials at George Best City airport are confident the public inquiry will reach a positive outcome.
"There is widespread support from business, tourism, the travelling public of Northern Ireland and the local community to extend the runway which would enable airlines to offer direct flights to European destinations from the heart of Belfast, providing consumer choice and furthering access to the region," Brian Ambrose, Chief Executive of George Best Belfast City Airport, said.
The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association has also reiterated its support in principle for the extension of the proposed runway.
"While I hope the public inquiry will take on board all sides of this debate, we remain of the view that this runway extension makes good economic sense for Belfast and for Northern Ireland as a whole", Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said.
The planning application to lengthen the runway by 590 metres in the Holywood direction was lodged in November 2008.
The extension would not result in a change in operating hours from 6.30am to 11.59pm but would enable larger aircraft to use the airfield.
City officials also claim it would not affect the number of flights operated from the airport each year, which is capped at 48,000.
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