The UK Government has given the final green light to an ambitious expansion project at London-Luton Airport. The decision, announced in a press release yesterday, grants development permission to increase the airport's capacity from the current 18 million passengers per year to 32 million. The project will involve a significant redevelopment and expansion of the airport, including new terminal facilities, additional taxiways and other transport infrastructure, the construction of ground support buildings, surface access modifications, environmental mitigation works and other associated developments.

The application for approval for the expansion was submitted by London-Luton Airport Limited to the Planning Inspectorate on 27 February 2023 and accepted for consideration on 27 March 2023. The assessment process required subsequent in-depth analysis by the examining authority, during which the public, statutory advisory bodies and interested parties were given the opportunity to submit comments and evidence. The examining authority's recommendations were then forwarded to the Secretary of State for Transport on 10 May 2024. The final decision, which came within the timeframe set out in the Planning Act 2008, represents the 57th approved transport project out of 152 considered to date.

The government highlighted how local communities had an active role in the six-month review process for the project. Residents, local authorities and other stakeholders were able to participate and provide input. The reviewing authority said it had listened to and carefully considered all local views and evidence before making its recommendation. Full details were made public and published on the National Infrastructure Planning website.

Progress on the expansion project

The airport's expansion has been a topic of debate for several years. The need to increase the airport's capacity had already emerged before the Covid-19 pandemic, with the aim of meeting the growing demand for air connections, in particular from low-cost airlines that represent a significant portion of Luton's traffic. In recent years, various expansion proposals have been put forward and discussed, often encountering opposition from environmental groups and local residents concerned about the noise impact, increased traffic and the consequences for the environment. The path to final approval has therefore been long and complex, characterised by public consultations and environmental assessments.

Yesterday's decision marks a turning point for the future of London-Luton Airport, paving the way for a significant infrastructure transformation that aims to consolidate its role in the UK's airport system and support the region's economic growth. What the next steps and the timing of the new infrastructure will be remains to be seen.