Luton Airport expansion to go ahead as Supreme Court ends legal challenge

We’re disappointed that the Supreme Court has declined to grant permission for a final appeal against the near-doubling of Luton Airport capacity to 32 million passengers per year. This means the airport expansion will go ahead – bad news for local communities and the environment.

The Supreme Court’s decision brings to an end our efforts, and those of countless others, to stop this damaging expansion.

We have long campaigned against Luton Airport expansion. It’s terrible for local people whose daily lives will become a nightmare. Approximately 60% more flights means more noise, more air pollution, and more airport traffic congestion in nearby towns and villages. To put the scale into perspective, 32 million passengers is equivalent to every person living in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire taking more than one flight every month throughout the year.

It’s also terrible for the countryside. Airport expansion to the east will destroy large parts of Wigmore Valley Park including valuable wildlife habitats and community green space. It will also have a significant impact on the tranquillity of the nearby Chilterns National Landscape and the wider countryside for miles around, under the flight paths.

And the airport expansion is terrible for the planet, at a time when we need to be doing everything possible to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero.

Recognition to all who have campaigned

This outcome is deeply disappointing, but we want to recognise everyone who has campaigned against the airport expansion over many years. In particular, we are grateful to LADACAN (the Luton And District Association for Control of Aircraft Noise), which has led the campaign with determination from the outset and will continue to scrutinise Luton Airport operations. We also thank our colleagues at CPRE Bedfordshire, the many local groups and residents who have devoted their time and energy to this cause, and of course our own CPRE Hertfordshire team.

Our continued commitment to protecting the countryside

Although this campaign has come to an end, our commitment to protecting Hertfordshire’s countryside has not. CPRE Hertfordshire has been standing up for the countryside for 98 years, and nationally CPRE has done so for 100 years. We have achieved some notable successes, and we will continue to campaign to protect, promote and enhance the countryside for everyone.

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