Funding for airport is approved

Government funding needed approval from the European Commission

A £24.3m grant to help redevelop Newquay Airport has been approved by the European Commission.

Officials said the money, from Cornwall Council, the European Union and South West Regional Development Agency, conformed to EU state aid rules.

It was approved because the airport's transition from a partial military base to a fully civilian airport was deemed beneficial to Cornwall's development.

The Commission has already awarded the airport a 22.5m euro (£19m) EU grant.

Plans over the next two decades for the development of the airport, which is on the former RAF St Mawgan base, include a new terminal, aviation training centre and business park.

There are also proposals to build and refurbish hangars to attract aircraft maintenance and aircraft recycling businesses.

A four-star hotel and a conference and exhibition centre are also planned as well as provision for improved public transport, more parking spaces and car hire.

It is hoped the changes will result in passenger numbers rising by 400%, to more than 1.4m a year.