Biggin Hill Airport has been given permission to build a new hotel.

Bromley Council's development control committee voted nine to six at a meeting last night to allow the development on the corner of Churchill Way to go ahead.

Two previous applications by the airport had been turned down on appeal, with planning inspectors branding the designs bland and unimaginative and questioning whether there was enough airport related business to support the hotel.

Jill Goodman, from planning consultants Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners, which represented the airport, said research among businesses at the airfield had shown they could provide a 69 per cent occupancy for the new facility.

She said the hotel's restaurant, bar and café would also be open to the public to enjoy views across the runway.

Cllr Simon Fawthrop, who represents Petts Wood and Knoll, argued against giving permission to the new hotel, saying it was too big and the airport already had permission for a 50-bed hotel near the terminal.

However, other members of the committee agreed the new application had addressed planning inspectors' concerns, with the previous boxy designs replaced with a curved glass and slate structure, and voted to give it the go ahead.