01 Mar 2023
A blueprint for the future expansion of London Luton Airport has been unveiled as part of an application submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
If granted, the Development Consent Order is estimated to bring in an additional £1.5bn of economic activity and 100,000 jobs nationwide.
The plans include community funding proposals that could provide an additional £14m annually for neighbouring areas.
The application comprises 198 documents, containing just over 25,000 detailed pages of proposals and plans.
Its key objective is the expansion of LLA from its current permitted cap of 18 million passengers per annum (mppa) up to 32 mppa, including: new terminal capacity; earthworks to create an extension to the current airfield platform; new airside and landside facilities; enhancement of the surface access network; extension of the Luton DART; landscaping and ecological improvements; and further infrastructure enhancements and initiatives to support the target of achieving zero-emission ground operations by 2040.
The submission documents include a full Needs Case, Environmental Statement, Traffic Assessment and Green Controlled Growth strategy that seeks to set binding and independently-monitored environmental limits for carbon, air quality, noise, and surface access – how people get to and from the airport – together with noise insulation plans.
Submission of the application marks the start of the ‘acceptance’ stage of the DCO process. There then follows a 28-day period for the Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, to decide whether or not the application meets the standards required to be accepted for examination, or if further documentation is needed.
Graham Olver, chief executive officer of Luton Rising, said: “We’re pleased to bring forward these proposals for the expansion of London Luton Airport – we aim to enhance economic activity in and around Luton, provide numerous community benefits, and make the airport a leader in sustainable aviation.
“We now wait in anticipation for the Inspectorate’s decision as to whether we proceed to the examination stage of the DCO process,” he said.
“We have certainly endeavoured to do everything we can to deliver an achievable, detailed and evidence-based application that will meet the Inspectorate’s requirements.
“We hope that this will mark the start of the next phase of our commitment to grow London Luton Airport and help to deliver the employment, prosperity and positive social impact for Luton and neighbouring communities that they so richly deserve.”
The proposals have met with a backlash from local aircraft noise action groups.
Andrew Lambourne, speaking for LADACAN, said “This proposal would create noise blight across north Hertfordshire, with flights increasingly starting at 5 in the morning and running on into the early hours, keeping thousands more people awake at night. The harms outweigh any possible benefits.”
Herts county Cllr John Hale (Colney Health and Marshalswick) said “The climate crisis is obviously worsening and people are really thinking twice before flying. It’s short-sighted to try to sustain the sub-regional economy on revenue from a fossil-fuelled industry which is among the hardest to decarbonise.
“Claims by Luton Rising about ‘Green Control Growth’ are greenwash which fools nobody. There’s nothing green about plans which will choke the already crowded local roads and rail services and add to the ever-growing carbon emissions from Luton Airport.”
If the DCO application is accepted, all relevant documents will be published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
