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Luton Airport expansion – Planning Inspectorate inviting representations

27th May 2023

Luton Rising (the trading name of Luton Airport) has submitted its application for a massive expansion, nearly doubling its capacity to 32 million passengers per year.  The Planning Inspectorate is now accepting written Representations from all Interested Parties until Friday 23rd June 2023.

Earlier this year, Luton Airport submitted its application for a Development Consent Order, allowing it to embark on a massive expansion – more capacity, more flights, a new terminal, more noise, more air pollution, and more harm to a wide swathe of the countryside over Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

This is bad for people and bad for the planet.

The Development Consent Order process is a special planning procedure for major infrastructure projects.  The Planning Inspectorate has now accepted the application for examination.

This means that members of the public may now submit written Representations to the Planning Inspectorate and register to participate in the upcoming examination. Read on for details of how to do this.

What’s the background on this?

Here at CPRE we’ve long been campaigning against Luton Airport’s proposed expansion, with previous consultation submittals and our participation at last year’s planning Inquiry.

While Luton Rising purports that the expansion of the airport will be done “sustainably”, we believe the staggering growth in flights will severely impact local residents’ quality of life and well-being. The increased air and noise pollution resulting from the expansion will cause extensive harm to residents’ everyday life and enjoyment of the countryside and local green spaces.

The increased capacity will also have a devastating impact on the environment and an irreversible damage to the countryside. The planned expansion will lead to the destruction of large parts of Wigmore Valley Park, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and natural habitat for wildlife as well as the loss of community recreation space. Expansion will also cause extreme harm to the tranquillity and landscape of the nearby Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

And the proposed airport expansion is massive – circa 60% more flights and 78% more passengers than are currently permitted. An expansion to 32 million passengers per year is nearly 150% more people flying into and out of Luton than the 13 million actual passengers in all of 2022.

Every person in Herts, Beds and Bucks flying somewhere every month?!

Put into context, expanding Luton Airport to 32 million passengers per year is the equivalent of every person living in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire all making more than one flight each month, every month, year in and year out. We think this is outrageous.

How can a representation be made?

The Planning Inspectorate will be conducting an examination of Luton Airport’s application. The examination is expected to begin later this year.

As part of this process, any individual or group may submit written comments (a Representation). By making a Representation, the individual or group becomes an Interested Party, and may take part in the examination.

The Planning Inspectorate has published helpful guidance on making a Representation.

All Representations must be made on the Planning Inspectorate’s Registration Form. This is available on the “Registration Form” tab on the Planning Inspectorate’s website at https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/eastern/london-luton-airport-expansion/

Anyone who wishes to request a hard copy of the Registration Form, or who is unable to complete it online and would like to register their interest, should call the Planning Inspectorate’s helpline on 0303 444 5000, quoting the name of the Application and the Planning Inspectorate’s reference number which is TR020001.

Completed forms should then be sent to the Planning Inspectorate by post or email to:

Post: The Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Planning, 3D, Temple Quay House, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN

Email: lutonairport@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

All Representations must be received by the Planning Inspectorate by 23:59 hrs on Friday 23rd June 2023.

Representations must include the name of the individual or group, address and phone number, along with an outline of the points intended to be made at the examination.

Submitted Representations will be published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website and will be subject to its privacy policy.

All documents relating to the application can also be viewed electronically at the following public libraries: Dunstable; Harpenden; Hitchin; Leighton Buzzard; Luton Central; Stevenage Central; Stopsley; Wendover; and also at Hertfordshire County Council’s offices in Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8DQ; and North Hertfordshire District Council’s offices in Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3JF.

Please contact the venues in advance to arrange an appointment for computer access to view the documents electronically.

On request, an electronic copy of the combined application can be supplied by Luton Rising free of charge on a USB memory stick. USBs will be limited to one per household or business. Contact Luton Rising at

Post: Luton Rising, Hart House Business Centre, Kimpton Road, Luton LU2 0LA

Email: futureluton@lutonrising.org.uk

What are we doing about Luton Airport’s expansion proposal?

CPRE Hertfordshire and CPRE Bedfordshire are working together to oppose the proposed expansion, and will shortly be making our own Representation. We will provide updates in due course.