Campaigners have welcomed proposals for the renovation of Shoreham Airport - after it was revealed there are no plans for runway expansion.

Restoration of the listed art deco terminal building, the creation of two new three-storey hangars, a new fire station and air-traffic control tower are among the plans.

Crucially, Erinaceous, the company which bought the airport in 2006, has not included any extra flights in its announcement or any proposals to extend the main runway.

A spokesman for the airport said: "The proposals will allow the airport to enhance the quality of passenger facilities alongside the continued use of the existing runway configuration.

"This will enable the airport to continue to operate as an improved general aviation aerodrome."

People living around the airport have campaigned long and hard to limit the expansion plans at Shoreham Airport.

Many had feared that plans to increase the runway size at Shoreham and increase flight volume, including the use of small jets, would be realised.

An online petition was launched, a lobby group was started and a number of heated public meetings were held to discuss how to halt the proposals.

Among those most opposed were environmental campaigners who believed the increased use of the airport would be devastating for the surrounding area and cause a surge in pollution.

The use of small jets is still on the cards and Erinaceous has indicated that it wants to begin more commercially viable flights to some European destinations, including Amsterdam and Edinburgh. However, the runway will not be enlarged.

A planning application for renovation of the main terminal building is expected to be lodged with Adur District Council within weeks.

The expansion is expected to create new jobs in the future and safeguard employment that already exists.

Airport manager John Haffenden told The Argus that the site, previously jointly owned by Brighton and Hove City Council and Worthing Borough Council, had to move with the times to survive and compete with other airports.

A public exhibition of all the plans is being put on show on February 1 at the airport at Premier House, Cecil Pashley Way from 3pm until 8pm.

Representatives from Erinaceous, which took the airport into private ownership for the first time in its history when it bought it in an £8.6 million deal, will be there to talk about the plans.

The airport spokesman said: "There will not be a formal presentation but it will be an opportunity for those living and working in the area or with an interest in the airport to discuss the proposals and to provide feedback.

"Members of the public are welcome to drop in any time in the five-hour period."

Feedback from the event will help in the preparation of the planning applications for the proposals.

Copies of the display boards will also be available to inspect at Adur District Council Offices on February 5 and 9, and will also be made available online at shorehamairport.co.uk from the February 5.