Business leaders in Braintree this week welcomed the £200 million expansion of Stansted Airport which could bring 5,000 new jobs to the area.

Work on the first phase of the development is expected to start early next year, following Monday's go-ahead decision by Uttlesford District Council.

It will mean the growth of the airport's terminal to cater for 15 million passengers a year, more than double current numbers.

At present, ten per cent of the airport's 7,000 workforce come from Braintree.

Chairman of Braintree's economic development and business liaison group, Cllr Phil Barlow said the increase in jobs would be a major boost for the local economy.

"From Braintree's point of view we have always supported the expansion of the airport and we were already aware that some ten per cent of the employees on or surrounding the airport come from the Braintree district," he said.

Chairman of Braintree Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Nick Forsyth, welcomed the fact that more local people could find work at the airport.

"Stansted are good employers," he said. "I do not see this as a big boost to business, but I think it will bring more work to people in the area and that means more people who can shop locally and trade locally."

Airport spokeswoman Carol Leach said they were delighted with the decision.

She said the project's phased construction plan would allow for infrastructure improvements to the A120, M11 and rail links.

BAA Stansted public affairs director, David Field said efforts would be made to minimise any detrimental effects which expansion could have on the surrounding area.

"It certainly means more aircraft will be taking off, but no more than we expected, and does not necessarily mean more noise because the modern aircraft and certainly most aircraft that is going to be flying in the future will be quieter than those of the past," he said.

Norman Mead, secretary of the North West Essex and East Herts Preservation Association, said he was not surprised that planning consent had been received and was satisfied that Stansted had to comply with conditions on pollution and noise levels.

"This has got to be the best run airport at that level of operation that can be achieved," said Mr Mead.

"Fifteen million passengers has to be the line which cannot be breached. Beyond that and we are into new towns which would be totally disastrous for this part of the country."

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