PLANS to build a 'potentially life saving' helipad at Airedale Hospital have been approved by Bradford Council.

The new facility will allow air ambulances to land at a site next to the hospital. Currently they have to land on a field near the Steeton hospital, with patients then transferred to ambulance and driven to the A&E department.

The Airedale NHS Foundation Trust said building a helipad next to the hospital would save vital minutes, and provide an alternative to sending patients to Leeds General Infirmary - the destination for many patients who require an air ambulance.

The trust predicted around one air ambulance a fortnight would likely use the site.

There had been four objections to the plans, as well as an objection from Steeton Parish Council.

Objectors claimed the downdraft from the helicopter blades could damage their homes, that the location of the pad, in a North East Corner of the site, was not suitable, and that it would cause noise and disruption to residents.

Steeton and Eastburn Parish Council said the design of the helipad was "out of keeping" with the area and that it would cause noise pollution.

Airedale Hospital submits plans to build new helipad that will 'help save lives'

But planning officers have approved the scheme, saying: "It is noted that the hospital previously had a helipad on the site which was built in 2004.

"This was decommissioned due to the increase in size of the helicopters and the limited size of the helipad with no room to expand.

"There is a clear benefit of installing the helipad at the hospital as it would remove the need for the air ambulance to land on the fields near to the hospital and transfer patients to an ambulance.

"The proposed helipad is located next to the emergency department which reduces the need for patients to be transferred long distances from the helicopter to the A&E.

"The air ambulance is an important tool in the emergency service's coverage of the area."

Conditions placed on the approval include that the pad can only be used by air ambulances, and that air ambulances avoid flying over homes near the hospital when possible.

Another condition is that there be no flights to the helipad between 10am and 5am "unless in exceptional circumstances."

Planning officers added: "Exceptional circumstances includes the transfer of critically ill children/babies and the retrieval and repatriation of critically ill children/babies to and from intensive care services located in specialist centres."