Residents in court to oppose new airport.

10 Feb, 2006

Germanys administrative court in Leipzig is currently hearing complaints filed by over 4,000 residents who are to be affected by the expansion of the Schnefeld Airport on the south-eastern outskirts of Berlin. The residents of five villages in the area are hoping to put a stop to the 1.7 billion project, which would see the Schnefeld Airport developed into a major international hub by 2011. The Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, as the new facility is to be called, would make the Tegel and Tempelhof airports redundant. The Berlin Airports group has already carried out extensive reclaiming and decontamination work, and has resettled the entire population of the village of Diepensee in preparation for the new hub. However, construction can only begin once the court has given the go-ahead. The decision is expected before June 2006.