The proposed airport site is at Sherford on the edge of Plymouth

Sutton Harbour Holdings, the company which runs Plymouth City Airport, wanted to see a new site at Sherford in the South Hams.

However the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) says it is not recommending the plans to the government in a major report on the future of airports in the South West.

The RDA report will be used by the government as it draws up a White Paper on the future of air travel over the next three decades.

The RDA has said that Exeter rather than Plymouth, should be the main regional airport for the far South West.

It recognises the importance of Plymouth for business, but there are concerns about the possible environmental impact of runway extensions.