DESPITE an attempt by the New Forest National Park Authority to thwart major plans for the expansion of Bournemouth Airport, work is progressing as planned.

In December last year bosses at the National Park Authority applied to the High Court for a judicial review of the decision by Christchurch council to grant permission for the scheme to build a new airport terminal, extra car parks and highways improvements.

The authority said the case was based on concerns that Christchurch council did not take proper account of the national park when granting permission, describing it as "an important point of principle."

But Christchurch council rejected these claims, highlighting the full environmental report included in the airport planning application, which detailed the impact of the expansion on the national park, as well as on the surrounding area.

And nearly four months down the line, it appears the case has not yet progressed very far.

A New Forest National Park spokesperson said: "The National Park Authority is waiting to hear back from the court service on the request for a judicial review, and has been given no firm indication of the likely time scale. The authority has no influence over the time taken for the courts to consider the claim."

But while the bureaucratic battle rages on, building work at the airport continues to make good progress.

Sally Windsor, head of external affairs at Bournemouth Airport, said: "Although we have not had any more meetings with the National Park Authority since December, the redevelopment is continuing according to plan.

"Our current priority are the airside facilities such as the apron and we hope over the next two or three to see some major progress there.

"We have not been delayed by the review as we always said the redevelopment would happen over four to five years and want the new terminal and facilities to be built to match passenger growth."