London Luton Airport Expansion Decision Delayed for Third Time

The government has postponed its ruling on the proposed expansion of London Luton Airport for the third occasion. Luton Rising, the company owned by Luton Borough Council and proprietor of the airport, submitted an application for a Development Consent Order. This order seeks to raise the airport’s annual passenger capacity from 18 million to 32 million. The Department for Transport announced that the deadline for this decision, originally set for 3 January, has been extended to 3 April 2025. This extension is intended to allow the recently appointed transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, additional time to review the application. Paul Kehoe CBE, who serves as the independent chair of Luton Rising, stated: “This is now the third delay for a decision and naturally we are disappointed as we are ready to move forward with our plans as quickly as possible and bring in investment to start delivering the benefits.” He further added: “Equally, we want to ensure the decision-making is robust so stand ready to provide any additional information that might be requested of us.” The government’s examining authority presented its report on the application on 10 May 2024. Initially, a decision was expected by 10 August, but this was deferred until 3 January 2025 following a general election, which resulted in Labour MP Louise Haigh becoming the transport secretary. In November, Ms Haigh was succeeded by Ms Alexander after information surfaced that she had pleaded guilty to a fraud offense ten years prior. The Department for Transport indicated that the extension would provide “appropriate time to fully consider this complex application.” The airport anticipates that its expansion proposals could contribute billions of pounds to the economy and generate thousands of employment opportunities in the Luton area. These plans encompass new terminal capacity, an extension of the existing airfield platform, and the addition of new airside and landside facilities. Alberto Martin, the chief executive officer of London Luton Airport, commented: “Growing the airport provides a compelling opportunity to back new infrastructure investment as a way to boost economic growth, drive up employment, and deliver on the government’s ambition to make the UK the fastest-growing economy in the G7.” He added: “We urge the transport secretary to make a decision as quickly as possible in the new year.” In a statement, the Department for Transport affirmed its commitment to “endeavour to issue a decision ahead of the deadline above where possible.”