Thousands of residents have backed Biggin Hill Airport’s plans to extend its opening hours in Bromley Council’s largest ever public consultation.

Some 31,500 people, out of 41,711 who responded, support the airport’s bold development proposals, which includes creating 2,300 jobs and cutting its noise footprint in half.

Council bosses are to make a final decision on the airport’s application to alter its operating hours at a meeting on Wednesday.

The council’s consultation, which ran from January to March, gave residents a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ choice on whether they support the plans.

The highest proportion of responses came from people living in wards directly affected and in the Biggin Hill ward, 2,000 residents voted in favour.

One third of the Biggin Hill’s adult population responded to the consultation with more than three quarters of them supporting the plans.

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A map of the results by ward

The results support the airport’s own consultation findings in October last year and an independent opinion poll carried out by the Populus market research agency.

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Will Curtis, Biggin Hill Airport managing director, thanked residents for their support.

He said: “This is a massive endorsement for the airport and we are very grateful to all those who participated in the consultation.

“The council will now decide whether or not to approve the proposal.

“We hope they will listen to public opinion”

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A breakdown of the number of responses by ward

Councillors will debate the proposal at a special full council meeting on Wednesday at 7pm before a final decision is made by the executive.

The Tory executive will meet in the Great Hall to take the decision immediately after the debate in the Council Chamber.

The proposed extended hours are 6.30am to 11pm from Monday to Saturday and 8am to 11pm on Sundays and public holidays.

No more than eight flights would depart or land in the first half hour of the day from Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays, under the proposals.

No more than eight flights would depart or land in the last hour of the day.

The current operating hours are from 6.30am to 10pm from Monday to Friday and 9am to 8pm on weekends and public holidays.

You can read the full report of the council's consultation results here.