Bosses at Luton Airport have called on the Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander to formalise the government’s approval of development at the airport allowing it to cater for 32m annual passengers, with others pushing back against the plans.
Both London Luton Airport Operations Limited and Luton Rising welcomed the support of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves for the aviation sector’s role in delivering economic growth and prosperity for the UK, during a speech to business leaders on Wednesday.
Read: Chancellor of the exchequer gives unequivocal backing to East West Rail
The Chancellor backed a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport as part of growth plans for the economy.
In a statement, Luton Rising said that the airport’s long-term expansion “would deliver 10,900 new jobs’ at the airport and in the supply chain, along with ‘£1.5bn annual economic growth”.
They added the expansion would also create up to an “extra £13m per year for vital community causes by the mid-2040s”. They say the proposals have been supported by more than 10,000 people, who signed a community-led petition, and over 130 businesses.
The plans would see a second terminal at the airport and “associated infrastructure to support growth” by making best use of its current runway, explained the airport company’s statement.
The chief executive of the airport’s operating company, Alberto Martin, said: “Luton is now at a tipping point with a generational opportunity to boost investment in public services further, which the airport’s growth will deliver.”
He also highlighted that “Every £1 spent by passengers at the airport allows the local authority to invest 53p directly into local community causes, 20 times more than any other UK airport”.
Environmental impact
However, the news of the expansion plans has not been received with the same level of enthusiasm by all, with local leaders warning that the expansion could have negative impacts here.
Speaking to the Bedford Independent, Cllr Lucy Bywater (Green/Castle) said there was a “fear” that if Luton Airport expansion goes ahead, the ‘growth’ will be a growth in pollution levels instead.
“This government said it wants to be a global climate leader but significant growth of carbon emissions from expansion of Luton Airport will wipe out carbon savings the government wants to make with its clean power plans,” she said.
She also highlighted concerns over road traffic, noise and air pollution, due to the doubling of passenger numbers using the airport to 32 million with a new terminal and a 7000+ space car park.
The airport’s owners and operators have, however, highlighted that they are taking environmental concerns on board.
“This [expansion] wouldn’t come at the expense of the environment, with a groundbreaking green controlled growth framework intended to constrain expansion within defined limits for greenhouse gas emissions,” their statement said.
“This would relate to the airport operation, noise, air quality and surface access, governing how people get to and from the site.”
Financial imbalance
But it’s not just the environmental impact that some say needs addressing.
Richard Fuller MP (Conservative/North Bedfordshire) highlighted a financial imbalance with earnings from the airport, saying they are not being shared with the rest of the county.
“The expansion of Luton Airport will create more local employment opportunities but also more congestion and air pollution for local residents,” he said.
“I have spoken frequently about the huge financial benefits that Luton Airport brings to its landowner – Luton Council – and the refusal of Luton Council to share the rental income it earns – already in the tens of millions – with other local public services.
So what should Luton Borough Council put their additional income towards if an expansion goes ahead? “I can think of no better local service than our hard-pressed local police,” says Mr Fuller.
That being said, his Conservative colleague in Mid Bedfordshire, Blake Stephenson MP, is a little more enthused about the plan.
“Since the election, I have been campaigning for economic opportunity in the region, and the expansion of Luton airport will bring millions more passengers to the county and put Bedfordshire on the map for more visitors.
“And with Stellantis announcing plans to close its Luton plant, these plans will help provide a jobs boost and opportunities for local people for many years to come.”
“We must start saying ‘yes'”
Before Wednesday’s speech, Ms Reeves had, according to the Daily Telegraph, told Labour MPs that previous governments had been too quick to bow to ‘NIMBYism’, not backing projects that were deemed “too controversial”.
Giving a hint that major infrastructure projects, such as EWR and airport expansions, would be given her backing, the Telegraph said she, “pledged that Labour would say “yes” to large projects”.
“Will that growth come easy? No. There are no easy routes out,” she said. “There are always reasons for the Government to say ‘no’.
“Over the past six months as Chancellor, my experience is that the government has become used to saying ‘no’. That must change. We must start saying ‘yes’.
“Yes, to new jobs. Yes, to higher living standards. Yes, to investment. And yes, to growth.”
She stood by her words and has given support to several projects across the country. And, indeed, some of them are controversial, namely the third runway at Heathrow and, closer to home, the East West Rail project
EWR was even singled out as part of her plan to boost the OxCam arc, alongside more regional housing and upgrades to the A428.
Read: Chancellor of the exchequer gives unequivocal backing to East West Rail
News that received a mixed response from those across the Borough who are invested in the outcome of the ongoing East West Rail consultations.
Reeves has said projects like EWR could help create Europe’s Silicon Valley between Oxford and Cambridge, one local MP called it a “housing project” in disguise.
Read: Local MP blasts EWR “housing project” as new station announced
Welcome news for Bedford?
So would a bigger Luton Airport be a good idea for the region, and help boost Bedford too?
Taking transport links already taking shape across the region and the potential for a Universal Theme Park on our doorstep into consideration, the mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton (Conservative), says a Luton Airport expansion is a “fantastic opportunity”.
He says it’ll, “drive job creation, attract investment, and boost tourism across Bedfordshire, strengthening our local economies”, and he naturally adds, “As a Conservative, I welcome this potential for growth and prosperity.”
But he does say that if Luton gets its expansion it must not be an isolated project.
“It is vital that the Government steps up with adequate funding to upgrade road and rail infrastructure, ensuring increased traffic does not worsen congestion on key routes like the A6, M1 and M25, which are already under significant strain,” he adds.
“Equally, we must prioritise the well-being of our residents. This means enforcing strict controls on flight schedules to minimise evening disruption and prevent noise disturbances during late-night and early-morning hours, alongside enhanced noise mitigation measures.
“As mayor of Bedford Borough, I believe we must strike a balance between driving economic growth and upholding our commitment to environmental and social responsibility, ensuring this expansion benefits everyone in our region.”
The Transport Secretary is due to decide on Luton Rising’s development consent order (DCO) submission by 3 April.
Additional reporting by
Euan Duncan Local Democracy Reporter
