Planning authorities have given the go-ahead for the construction of a new terminal in Dublin airport that is expected to be open to air passengers by mid-2010.
In a decision published this evening, An Bord Pleanala also granted permission for the construction of a new runway within the next five years.
The T2 project was given the green light by An Bord Pleanala subject to 30 conditions. However, only phase one of the project was given permission.
It is almost a year since the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) secured planning permission from Fingal County Council for the 75,000sq m second terminal subject to 43 conditions including a €12.5 million infrastructure levy payable to the council.
The terminal, which is set to cost €609 million to develop, is essential, according to the DAA, to deal with overcrowding and allow for expansion in passenger numbers from just under 20 million a year to as much as 30 million. The additional runway would bring capacity to about 50 million passengers per year, but would require the construction of a third terminal.
The runway will cost €150 million at current prices, and will be situated 1.7km to the north of the existing main runway at Dublin Airport.
The DAA said this evening that construction on the new terminal could begin within weeks following today's decision.
"On behalf of all our passengers, we welcome the fact that we have now received the go-ahead," said DAA Chief Executive Declan Collier. "Subject to a review of the planning conditions by the Board of the DAA and its approval of initial construction contracts, we hope to begin preliminary construction work on T2 very shortly."
"The timely addition of a new runway is essential to allow Dublin Airport meet the growing needs of our airlines and passengers," he added.
The construction of the new terminal and the new runway are part of the DAA's €2 billion "Transforming Dublin Airport" programme.
The 10-year plan also includes a new boarding gate facility, Pier D, which opens this autumn and an extension to the existing terminal.
The development of the new terminal will be the first major expansion in passenger facilities since the current terminal was built in the late 1960s.
However, despite the growing capacity constraints, the DAA's plans have drawn significant opposition, particularly from Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary who said the new terminal was too costly, badly designed and in the wrong location. Ryanair said tonight it would be appealing the decision to grant permission for T2.
Ryanair was among 28 companies and individuals which submitted planning objections to Fingal County Council. Local landowner Ulick McEvaddy and his brother Desmond, who believe a new terminal should be privately owned and claim they can build it at a fraction of the cost estimates put forward by the DAA, also submitted an objection.
The remaining objections came from local residents mostly based in the St Margaret's area near the airport who believe their quality of life will be adversely affected by the expansion.
Construction of the new terminal is expected to be completed towards the end of 2009. Following a testing and commissioning phase, it will open in April 2010, the DAA said.
