We’re at the public inquiry, fighting against Luton Airport expansion

CPRE Hertfordshire continues to actively campaign against the proposed expansion of Luton Airport.

As a part of this campaign, we are participating as a ‘Rule 6 objector’ in the current six-week public inquiry into Luton Airport’s planning application to vary its operating conditions and amend the day and night noise contours.  This means we are a main objector with the capability to cross-examine the other side.

Public inquiry

The public inquiry over expansion of London Luton Airport has been called by two Secretaries of State and it is being held at Luton Town Hall with the consultation on Noise scheduled on 1^st to 4^th November; Planning and Policy from 8^th to 10^th November; and Conditions and Obligations to be discussed on 11^th November. This inquiry will end on the 17^th of November with site visits and a closing statement. Three National Planning inspectors will hear the evidence presented during the consultations and review last year’s decision by Luton Borough Council to permit further expansion seven years ahead of schedule while failing to enforce any noise limits.

Our Planning Manager Chris Berry and Counsel Joe Thomas from Landmark Chambers are representing the interests of residents’ and the local countryside in this inquiry.

Impact of airport expansion plans

London Luton Airport is the UK’s fifth busiest airport and London Luton Airport Operations Limited (LLAOL) plans to increase the passenger capacity from 18 to 19 million per year which will lead to eventual expansion to 32 million passengers a year thus ignoring the original plan by the Council to limit the number to 18 million passengers. A second terminal and its associated facilities will be built under the expansion plans.

Luton Borough Council, the Airport’s owner, has set an ambitious target of becoming carbon neutral by 2040, while at same time supporting this development which will lead to 60% increase in flights and therefore higher emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. A recently published scientific study on ‘Quantifying aviation’s contribution to global warming’  found that aviation’s contribution to further warming would be immediately halted by either a sustained annual 2.5% decrease in air traffic under the existing fuel mix, or a transition to a 90% carbon-neutral mix by 2050.

While LLOAL purports that the expansion of the airport will result in employment opportunities and  economic growth in the area, the staggering growth in flights will severely impact the residents’ quality of life due to the increased pollution. With a significant rise in both noise and air pollution, we can expect some long-term implications to the health of the local population. Air pollution increases chances of chronic diseases such as cancer, asthma, heart disease, as well as dementia and according to a study published by the Royal College of Physicians, it is contributing to 40,000 excess deaths in the UK.

The London Luton Airport’s increased capacity will have a devastating impact on the environment and an irreversible damage to the countryside areas in northern Hertfordshire and southern Bedfordshire. 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.

Please support our campaign

CPRE Hertfordshire continues to campaign for sustainable transport including more widespread and frequent bus services and rural on-demand services. And we will continue to fight against the environmentally damaging expansion of the aviation sector.

We invite you to support our work to oppose expansion of Luton Airport and protect our countryside. We are a small charity, and we rely on membership subscriptions and fundraising. It’s easy and quick to join us, and we greatly appreciate your donation in any amount.