Bid to block airport growth fails

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A legal challenge over plans for another one million passengers a year at George Best Belfast City Airport has been dismissed in the High Court.

The five residents' groups which brought a legal challenge over plans to expand the airport, have been ordered to pay legal costs of £100,000.

Lord Justice Girvan said that the residents' challenge was premature.

He said a final decision has not yet been taken on the plans by Environment Minister Arlene Foster.

"It would be inappropriate in an ongoing and incomplete process which has not reached the stage of a decision for the court to be drawn into analysing arguments and evidence which is going to be taken into account in the decision-making process," he said.

A spokesman for the residents' groups said they were disappointed but would continue to oppose the expansion plans.