A Bradford business leader has expressed concern at the delay in granting permission for the proposed £70m expansion of Leeds-Bradford International Airport.

Leeds councillors this week deferred the decision and have demanded an improved blueprint for transport links to the airport before considering the plans again.

Sandy Needham, chief executive of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, which backs the expansion, has called for a private-public partnership to deliver improved transport links.

She said neither the airport’s owners, private equity group Bridgepoint, nor local authorities could afford to fund the required improvements alone.

Sandy Needham urged planners to pass the plan, rather than waiting for the better links to be provided.

She said: “Leeds councillors need to learn from the experience of the failed Supertram scheme. If they had waited for that to happen before redeveloping the city then nothing would have happened.

“It’s the same with the airport. We accept better links are required and have lobbied for them, but this should not hold up work on improving and expanding the airport itself.

“Neither the council nor the owners can afford to pay for such improvements. There needs to be a real private -public sector partnership to ensure the funding is there.

“Leeds-Bradford is a vital cog in the region’s economy and it is important that Bridgepoint is allowed to proceed.”

John Parkin, Leeds-Bradford International Airport chief executive, said: “We are pleased with the planning committee’s recognition of the importance of the airport within the regional economy.

“We are also encouraged by their acknowledgement that the proposed terminal design responds to the need for improved passenger facilities.”

The plans, which include a £28m programme to expand and improve the terminal buildings, are expected to create around 3,000 jobs.