The growth of Luton Airport has been accredited by the transport secretary.
The choice by Heidi Alexander to rubber-stamp the plans, that are for a brand new terminal slightly than a runway, comes regardless of the Planning Inspectorate recommending she reject the transfer over environmental considerations.
The federal government had been contemplating whether or not to develop the airport as a way to spice up UK progress, following the same choice to give the green light to a third runway at Heathrow initially of the 12 months.
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Luton Airport, the UK’s fifth busiest airport final 12 months, desires to extend its annual cap on passenger numbers from 18 million to 32 million by the mid-2040s, permitting its runway for use for 77,000 extra flights per 12 months in contrast with final 12 months.
In 2024, 16.9 million passengers travelled by way of the airport on 132,000 flights.
The Planning Inspectorate, the arms-length authorities physique that offers with planning appeals and nationwide infrastructure planning functions, was involved that the airport growth would have a “average antagonistic important impact on the aesthetic or perceptual traits” of the Chilterns nationwide panorama throughout building.
Ms Alexander accredited the airport’s improvement consent order – used to acquire permission for nationally important infrastructure tasks – after being informed the growth would assist the UK’s economic system.
It’s understood the cupboard unanimously supported the plans in gentle of claims that the growth would additionally profit Luton, the place Stellantis closed its 120-year-old Vauxhall van-making factory lower than every week in the past.
A authorities supply stated: “The transport secretary has accredited the growth of Luton airport for its advantages to Luton and the broader UK economic system.
“The choice overturns the Planning Inspectorate’s suggestion for refusal.
“Growth will ship enormous progress advantages for Luton with 1000’s of excellent, new jobs and a money increase for the native council which owns the airport.
“That is the 14th improvement consent order accredited by this Labour authorities, demonstrating we’ll cease at nothing to ship financial progress and new infrastructure as a part of our plan for change.”
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‘Clear advantages’
Luton Rising, the financial improvement firm that owns the airport, claimed the mission would assist round 12,000 new jobs within the space and supply an extra financial good thing about £1.6bn per 12 months.
Chair Paul Kehoe stated the transport secretary’s choice “permits us to proceed detailed planning”.
He added: “The advantages are clear. At a brand new capability of 32 million passengers per 12 months, our scheme will ship as much as 11,000 new jobs, further annual financial exercise of as much as £1.5bn, and as much as an extra £13m yearly for communities and good causes.
“By introducing most limits for the airport’s noise, operational greenhouse gasoline emissions, air high quality and floor entry impacts, we additionally imagine that our inexperienced managed progress framework represents probably the most far-reaching dedication to the sustainable operation of an airport ever put ahead within the UK.”
Final month Ms Alexander additionally introduced that she would support Gatwick Airport’s second runway plan if the mission was adjusted.
The transport secretary beforehand stated the UK “can and should” increase aviation similtaneously defending the setting, denying that the 2 are basically incompatible.
‘Unhealthy case of déjà vu’
Environmental teams instantly criticised the choice as “misguided”.
Johann Beckford, senior coverage adviser at Inexperienced Alliance, stated it was “a foul case of déjà vu”.
He added: “Doubling passenger and flight numbers will enhance emissions, air air pollution and noise.
“This newest misguided mission does extra to undermine UK local weather credibility than it does to develop the economic system as, as soon as once more, the expansion affect of the growth is prone to be overstated.
“With virtually 90% of Luton flights taken for leisure, this choice offers precedence boarding to British vacationers taking their cash overseas to spend overseas.”
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Colin Walker, head of transport on the Vitality and Local weather Intelligence Unit, stated the transfer would “encourage frequent flyers to fly much more often” and to spend their cash overseas.
“70% of the UK’s flights are taken by simply 15% of its inhabitants,” he stated.
“The UK already runs a £41bn tourism deficit; an expanded Luton will make this worse by encouraging much more folks to take their disposal earnings out of the UK and spend it overseas.
“Approving the growth of Gatwick and Luton airports will see emissions enhance to such an extent that each one the CO2 financial savings that the federal government hopes to attain from its clear energy plan can be worn out by 2050.”
