Luton airport allowed to double capacity after UK government overrules planners | Airline industry

Luton Airport will be allowed to almost double in capacity after the government overruled planning inspectors who recommended blocking the scheme on environmental grounds.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander granted the development consent order for the airport’s plans to expand its perimeter and add a new terminal, allowing a potential 32 million passengers a year.

The approval comes despite specific concerns raised about ancient trees and the impact of more flights on the Chilterns, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

However, Labour sources said that the promise of thousands of additional jobs had outweighed environmental considerations.

Luton airport is also ultimately owned by the local council, meaning that a greater share of its profits are put back into local services.

It has promised a “green controlled-growth mechanism”, which includes legally binding targets on noise and emissions, as well as public transport access to the airport.

A government source said: “The transport secretary has approved the expansion of Luton airport for its benefits to Luton and the wider UK economy.

“The decision overturns the Planning Inspectorate’s recommendation for refusal. Expansion will deliver huge growth benefits for Luton with thousands of good, new jobs and a cash boost for the local council which owns the airport.

“This is the 14th development consent order approved by this Labour government, demonstrating we will stop at nothing to deliver economic growth and new infrastructure as part of our ‘Plan for Change’.”

Last year, 16.7 million people used the airport, the fourth largest in the London area and a base for a number of leisure airlines.

The airport is also well situated for the Oxford-Cambridge arc championed by the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, for future economic growth.

The airport claims to have majority local support for the expansion plan, although opponents cite the destruction of an adjacent park amid wider climate and noise concerns.

More details to follow …