The RSPB, the country's largest nature conservation charity, has launched a legal challenge to the decision to allow an airport expansion at Lydd in Kent which would see passenger traffic increase from 4,000 a year to 500,000 - which RSPB says will damage the internationally important Dungeness Nature Reserve.

The proposed runway extension involves the construction of a 294m runway extension and a 150m starter extension and a proposed new terminal building capable of processing up to 500,000 passengers per annum.

The case will be heard in the High Court at  the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Highlighting the issue, the RSPB’s website states:

“In a move that would destroy the natural tranquillity of Dungeness and could see its remarkable wildlife slowly disappear, the owners of Lydd airport want to increase the number of passengers that fly from there from 4,000 a year to 500,000.”

A public inquiry was held into the applications by Lydd Airport in 2011 at which the RSPB raised concerns about the impact an expansion would have on the nearby protected wildlife area of Dungeness. The inspector found in favour of the airport’s proposals – and his report was subsequently endorsed by the Secretaries of State for Communities and Local Government and for Transport.

The RSPB said that it was issuing the legal challenge to the final decision based on the inspector’s report after careful consideration, commenting:

“We believe the stakes are too high to risk the future of one of our best and most important places for nature without testing the basis for this decision which we consider to be flawed.”

Dungeness is one of the most important wildlife sites in the world and it is protected at global, European and UK levels. It is home to many threatened species and is also a crossroads for migrating birds stopping off on migration. The area includes the RSPB Dungeness Reserve and also a National Nature Reserve managed by Natural England.

Dungeness was declared a National Nature Reserve in order to protect its unique shingle ridges. Other habitats include wetlands, grasslands and farmland.