We were advised by the planning casework unit on Monday that Newcastle City Council had referred the Newcastle Great Park Consortium application for Cell A/B1 to the Civil Aviation Authority, under the safeguarding of aerodromes procedure, which could result in the application being called in by the Secretary of State. However, this does not appear to be the case. We understand Newcastle Airport is to withdraw its objection, which means a referral to the CAA is no longer necessary. Why has the airport suddenly decided to withdraw its objection? It is exceedingly rare that the Secretary of State calls in an application on safeguarding grounds, even if there is likely to be a ‘significant detrimental effect on the environment’, due to uncertainty around the criteria for call-in. We will have to hope the application will be called in on the grounds that it constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt.