Last week councillors voted against the terminal plans, disregarding the advice of senior planning officials.

But on Tuesday night the council agreed to an amended package of measures, including compensation for residents.

The council denied it had done a U-turn and said the amended proposals represented a tougher stance.

The package put forward for local residents includes noise control measures, grants for noise insulation up to 80% of the costs to a maximum of �3000, restrictions on flight times until improvements to Tollbar End Junction are completed and the monitoring of air quality.

'Good balance'

A proposal which also included the provision of increased transport access to the airport was accepted on Tuesday night by five votes to three.

Planning committee chairman Bill Evans said: "The committee were justified in rejecting the earlier proposals as they did not go far enough.

"I am happy that these amended proposals represent a tougher stance on the mitigation achieved by the council.

"With the addition of the tougher measures on public transport, I feel we have achieved a good balance between the needs of local residents and the legitimate requirements of local business."

But Conservative councillor Michael Kinson said the council should not be supporting the expansion.

He said: "There is an international airport at Birmingham and another at East Midlands. Another airport is not needed there (Coventry).

"This has consequences for local people in the area and they deserve our support."