Open hearing to start five-day process to examine in council’s airport company’s application to expand London Luton Airport and increase passenger capacity
An application by London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) to expand its operations and create around 11,000 new jobs through a development consent order (DCO) is to be examined by the Planning Inspectorate this week.
Luton Borough Council’s airport company, trading as Luton Rising, submitted its DCO plans to increase passenger capacity over several years to 32m per annum from 18m.
“A successful application would bring more investment and business activity to Luton, growing the local economy by more than £1bn,” the company said on its website.
“The project would produce millions of pounds of extra funding for the town’s charities, helping to transform thousands of lives in the local community.”
The controversial proposals involve expanding the airport terminal and building a second one as part of a long-term scheme, along with new taxiways and the bulldozing of Wigmore Valley Park.
No extra runway is planned, but other facilities will be provided including the New Century Park commercial development supporting 3,000 jobs, a Luton direct air-rail transit (DART) extension and a new access road from Airport Way.
