A MAJOR facelift at West Wales Airport that’s been in the pipeline for more than 10 years could be given more time for completion.

Full planning permission for a new airport infrastructure including terminal building, two hangers, fire station, fuel storage, new vehicular access and parking with associated hotel and technical training centre, hydro-break, and underground surface water facility were first approved in 2008.

The site to the south of the existing West Wales Airport near Aberporth has since been brought back to the planning table on a number of occasions with variations made to conditions and the time limit on commencing works was extended in 2013.

The plan aims to create 500 high-quality jobs and contribute up to £25m per year to the local economy within the next 10 years.

Nothing has been built on the site and the current permission expired earlier this year.

Ceredigion County Council’s development committee was recommended to approve a further five-year extension on the application at its meeting yesterday.

In a statement supporting a further extension to the permission, West Wales Airport says it has maintained its lead position in European unmanned aviation and there are clear signs of recovery in the sector.

See this week’s South Ceredigion paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now