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| Luton airport expansion approved by government | Luton airport expansion approved by government |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The expansion plans include a new terminal building for the Bedfordshire-based airport | The expansion plans include a new terminal building for the Bedfordshire-based airport |
| London Luton Airport hopes to almost double annual passenger numbers to 32 million by 2043 after the government approved expansion plans, including a new terminal. | |
| It came despite the Planning Inspectorate recommending Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander rejected them over environmental concerns. | It came despite the Planning Inspectorate recommending Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander rejected them over environmental concerns. |
| Luton Rising, the airport's owner, said the decision could bring "significant economic, employment and social benefits for our town". | |
| However, environmental campaigners said "with climate change worsening, the last thing any of us need is 70,000 more aircraft a year". | However, environmental campaigners said "with climate change worsening, the last thing any of us need is 70,000 more aircraft a year". |
| Luton was the UK's fifth busiest airport last year, with 16.9 million people travelling on 132,000 flights. | Luton was the UK's fifth busiest airport last year, with 16.9 million people travelling on 132,000 flights. |
| The expansion plans involve building a new terminal, new taxiways and increasing capacity in the existing terminal, from its current 18 million passengers a year. | The expansion plans involve building a new terminal, new taxiways and increasing capacity in the existing terminal, from its current 18 million passengers a year. |
| 'Vital infrastructure' | 'Vital infrastructure' |
| A spokesman for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was "pleased" with the decision. | A spokesman for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was "pleased" with the decision. |
| He said: "Improving our national infrastructure is critical to achieving growth and delivering jobs across the country, and this decision will help us deliver growth as part of our plan for change. | He said: "Improving our national infrastructure is critical to achieving growth and delivering jobs across the country, and this decision will help us deliver growth as part of our plan for change. |
| "This step underlines the government's commitment to unlocking vital infrastructure and backing growth." | "This step underlines the government's commitment to unlocking vital infrastructure and backing growth." |
| The expansion decision had been delayed three times, most recently so newly appointed Alexander could have more time to consider the application. | The expansion decision had been delayed three times, most recently so newly appointed Alexander could have more time to consider the application. |
| Paul Kehoe, independent chair of Luton Rising, which is owned by Luton Borough Council, said up to 11,000 new jobs would be created. | Paul Kehoe, independent chair of Luton Rising, which is owned by Luton Borough Council, said up to 11,000 new jobs would be created. |
| He said this was along with "additional annual economic activity of up to £1.5bn". | He said this was along with "additional annual economic activity of up to £1.5bn". |
| The announcement came less than a week after Vauxhall's van-making factory in Luton was closed by parent company Stellantis, putting up to 1,100 jobs at risk. | The announcement came less than a week after Vauxhall's van-making factory in Luton was closed by parent company Stellantis, putting up to 1,100 jobs at risk. |
| Meanwhile the airport expansion became the latest to be backed by the government, which has made growth a priority. | Meanwhile the airport expansion became the latest to be backed by the government, which has made growth a priority. |
| Alexander said she was "minded to approve" a second runway at Gatwick Airport in February, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves has backed a third runway at Heathrow. | Alexander said she was "minded to approve" a second runway at Gatwick Airport in February, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves has backed a third runway at Heathrow. |
| Andrew Lambourne, of campaign group LADACAN, said the government ignored the concerns of local people. | Andrew Lambourne, of campaign group LADACAN, said the government ignored the concerns of local people. |
| He said many felt the application was "out-of-keeping" with the area, adding: "People living under the flight path are already at risk of health damage from being awoken by night flights, so adding 70% more is inhumane." | He said many felt the application was "out-of-keeping" with the area, adding: "People living under the flight path are already at risk of health damage from being awoken by night flights, so adding 70% more is inhumane." |
| Countryside charity CPRE added the expansion made "a mockery" of the government's "commitment to reaching net zero by 2030". | Countryside charity CPRE added the expansion made "a mockery" of the government's "commitment to reaching net zero by 2030". |
| The Planning Inspectorate recommended the government rejected the expansion over environmental concerns | The Planning Inspectorate recommended the government rejected the expansion over environmental concerns |
| One of the concerns expressed by the examining authority, on behalf of the Planning Inspectorate, was disruption to the "relative tranquility" of the Chilterns. | One of the concerns expressed by the examining authority, on behalf of the Planning Inspectorate, was disruption to the "relative tranquility" of the Chilterns. |
| It was understood the expansion plan would mean a plane flying over the area up to once every 15 minutes, compared with once every half an hour currently. | It was understood the expansion plan would mean a plane flying over the area up to once every 15 minutes, compared with once every half an hour currently. |
| Mr Kehoe, from Luton Rising, said the airport had introduced limits on noise and greenhouse gas emissions. | Mr Kehoe, from Luton Rising, said the airport had introduced limits on noise and greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Marion Geoffroy, managing director of Wizz Air, said she hoped the company, which is the airport's largest operator, could continue to grow. | Marion Geoffroy, managing director of Wizz Air, said she hoped the company, which is the airport's largest operator, could continue to grow. |
| "We are absolutely confident, looking at the trends of the last few years, that there will be enough demand for us to put more capacity in Luton airport," she said. | "We are absolutely confident, looking at the trends of the last few years, that there will be enough demand for us to put more capacity in Luton airport," she said. |
| But operators will be competing for the new space. Earlier this week, Jet2 began to offer routes for the first time. | But operators will be competing for the new space. Earlier this week, Jet2 began to offer routes for the first time. |
| Ms Geoffroy insisted "competition is good", adding: "We are delighted the airport can offer more capacity, but we will be competing for sure." | Ms Geoffroy insisted "competition is good", adding: "We are delighted the airport can offer more capacity, but we will be competing for sure." |
| Breachwood Green will see more passengers parking in its streets, according to the parish council | |
| King's Walden Parish Council, which covers several villages near the airport, said it was "hugely disappointed by the decision." | |
| It said: "This development will negatively impact the rural communities of Breachwood Green, Tea Green and permanently destroy landscapes. This is on top of causing increased noise, sound and air pollution. | |
| "The impact on the nearby transport infrastructure, particularly through the rural lanes of this parish, will be devastating." | |
| The council said it was also concerned about increasing the number of airport passengers who left cars in Breachwood Green to avoid parking charges. | |
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