Transport secretary Heidi Alexander on Thursday (3 April) signed off the airport’s plans to go up from 19 million annual passengers to 32 million by 2043, citing the economic benefits of expansion on the area.
"Expansion will deliver significant economic benefits to the town, including new jobs, which was a key reason for my decision,” said Alexander.
The decision comes days after Luton became Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ 13th UK base; Jet2 flights and holidays from the Hertfordshire airport got under way on Tuesday (1 April).
The airport’s owner, Luton Council council-owned outfit Luton Rising, said the project would generate an additional £1.5 billion for the economy a year and create up to 11,000 new jobs, describing it as "a tipping point for the future of the local and national economies".
Works will include building a new terminal, laying new taxiways and developing the infrastructure at the airport.
“Our priority now is to finalise a commercial agreement with Luton Council to renew our successful partnership so we can deliver on the government’s growth policy and make the expansion a reality as soon as possible,” said the airport’s chief executive, Alberto Martin.
“This will put Luton at the heart of a collective mission to achieve sustainable economic growth.”
South Bedfordshire and Luton South MP Rachel Hopkins added approval of the plans served as a “clear example” of how the Labour government was seeking to stimulate economic growth and balancing that against existing environmental commitments.
These include reducing aviation emissions by 15% over the next five years, and by 40% by 2040, before reaching net-zero in 2050.
Approval for expansion at Luton follows support from the government for expansion at Heathrow and Gatwick. However, the latest decision has not come without dissent. Anna Krajinska, UK director of environmental lobby Transport & Environment, told TTG these decisions flew in the face of the UK’s net-zero targets.
“Limiting airport expansion is an opportunity for airports, not a death sentence,” she said. “It’s a chance for them to get ahead and become green fuel hubs, a technology that is crucial for slashing aviation emissions and which can deliver UK growth and jobs. It’s dubious whether airport expansion can deliver the same.”
Residents group Ladacan criticised the transport secretary for overruling the Planning Inspectorate, which raised concerns about noise and other environmental impacts of expansion, while campaigners from Stay Grounded campaigners described the plans “a threat to both climate and economic prosperity”.
Spokesperson Hannah Lawrence said the government could "deliver prosperity and a safe future free from climate breakdown by ending deadly airport expansions and implementing just measures such as a Frequent Flying levy".
