Belfast International Airport owner TBI has launched a High Court action to halt the construction of a £30m terminal at another airport in the city, which started on site last year.

TBI has asked for a judicial review of the planning approval granted by the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment for the terminal at Belfast City Airport, which is owned by Canadian group Bombardier.

TBI claims that the department’s approval of the terminal failed to comply with European directives on conserving wildlife habitats.

TBI also claims that the DOE failed to impose conditions on Bombardier ensuring that it safeguards areas of special scientific interest, such as Belfast Loch, next to the terminal site.

TBI is awaiting planning approval for a £100m development next to Belfast International Airport at Aldergrove and claims the DOE has delayed approving its scheme while it rushed through approval for the extension to Belfast City Airport.

A spokesperson for the DOE said: “There is no delay with Aldergrove. “There are a number of road issues in the development that we need to clarify and it is up to TBI to provide us with more information. So far, it has not done that.”

TBI declined to comment. Bombardier was unavailable for comment.