East Midlands Airport has been fined £892,500 after discharging pollutants into a nearby brook, causing significant environmental damage and fish deaths.
The Environment Agency confirmed that poorly maintained sewage treatment facilities at the airport led to pollutants entering the watercourse, resulting in the death of around 2,700 fish across a 5km stretch of the River Trent tributary.
The court heard that the airport had failed to maintain and upgrade its sewage treatment plant despite repeated warnings and recommendations from the Environment Agency. The pollution, which occurred between February and April 2018, was found to have had a “serious and long-lasting” impact on local biodiversity.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “This case demonstrates that even large and well-resourced organisations must take their environmental responsibilities seriously. Failure to do so can cause lasting damage to wildlife and habitats, and we will take robust action where necessary.”
The regulator highlighted that the pollution was preventable, noting that the airport had not adequately invested in maintenance despite being aware of the risks. The fine was described as one of the largest imposed in recent years for an incident of this kind, underlining the seriousness of the offence.
East Midlands Airport, owned by Manchester Airports Group, accepted responsibility and has since invested in new infrastructure to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future. The company apologised for the pollution and confirmed that lessons had been learned.
Environmental groups welcomed the enforcement action, stressing the importance of holding major organisations accountable for protecting rivers and ecosystems.
The fine forms part of a wider push by regulators to ensure compliance with environmental standards, amid growing concern over water pollution and its impact on biodiversity in UK rivers and streams.
