Labor today approved the expansion of Luton Airport, even though the ministers were told to reject the plans on environmental problems.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander gave the Go-Ahead to the application for the Bedforshire Airport Development Conds Order (DCO).
The project is aimed at increasing the airport limit on annual passenger numbers of 18 million to 32 million against the middle of the 2040.
The plans also include allowing Luton's catwalk to be used for 77,000 more flights per year than last year.
In 2024, Luton was the fifth busiest airport in the UK last year with 16.9 million passengers who traveled at 132,000 flights.
Those behind the project claimed that there would be 'significant economic, employment and social benefits' for the city of Bedfordshire.
But opponents claimed that the government had ignored the local population in the green relieving the plans that would relegate the health and quality of life in the environment.
DCOs are used to get permission for nationally significant infrastructure projects and Luton has been approved because Labor continues a hectic bid on economic growth.
Labor has approved the expansion of Luton Airport, despite the fact that the ministers have to reject the plans on environmental problems
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander gave the Go-Ahead to the application for the Bedforshire Airport Development Conds Order (DCO).
The project is aimed at increasing the airport limit on annual passenger numbers of 18 million to 32 million against the middle of the 2040
A government source said: 'The transport secretary has approved the expansion of Luton Airport for its benefits for Luton and the wider British economy.
'The decision destroys the recommendation of the planning inspection for refusal.
'Expansion will produce enormous growth means for Luton with thousands of good, new jobs and a cash boost for the city council that the airport has.
“This is the 14th development assignment assignment approved by this Labor Government, which shows that we will stop nothing to deliver economic growth and new infrastructure as part of our plan for change.”
One of the roles of the Planning Inspectorate – an executive agency of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – is to consider requests and make recommendations to the relevant State Secretary.
The DCO of Luton Airport allows flights a year until 209,000.
One of the concerns of the research body that has assessed the application for the planning inspection was a disturbance of the 'relative peace' of the National Landscape of Chilterns.
It is understood that the expansion plan would mean an aircraft that flies over the area once every 15 minutes compared to once every half hour.
Expansion would increase the size of his existing terminal and the construction of a second terminal.
It should also be expanded with the Dart rail connection to the second terminal, as well as new taxi paths – which connect landing jobs with terminals, hangars and other facilities – and parking facilities with access and costs based on the emissions of a vehicle.
Luton Council's Luton Rising, which owns the airport, says that the project is 'ready to go'.
The Council estimates that expansion would support around 12,000 new jobs in the area and offer an additional economic benefit of £ 1.6 billion a year.
The announcement is less than a week after the Vauxhall vans factory in Luton was closed by parent company Stellantis, which endangers a maximum of 1,100 jobs.
Campagnegroep Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise were against the expansion application, and claimed that it would “deteriorate the health and quality of life,” and it is known that “aircraft noise is damaged at night to damage health.”
Wigmore Park, which borders the airport, would be destroyed as part of the plan.
The airport proposes to create 'replacement open space' in the east, which is 'at least 10 percent larger' than the existing park.
Tory MP Gareth Bacon, the shadow transport secretary, said: “The approval of the government of the expansion of Luton Airport is a welcome development.
'This decision has the potential to stimulate the local economy and to improve connectivity in the UK.
'It is clear, however, that labor still does not understand that supporting projects that will take years to complete will not alleviate the consequences of their punitive job tax that will destroy the economy, kill jobs and each working household will make £ 3,500 worse.
'Labor inherited the fastest -growing economy in the G7, but by beating the economy, increasing tax levels to a record high and to undermine the confidence of the business community, they killed the dead of growth and families pay the price.
“In contrast to work, the conservatives understand that when you harm companies, you will go out of growth.”
