Luton Airport expansion brings hopes for local economic boost
The expansion, which was approved despite environmental concerns, promises local and national growth
Luton Borough Council has welcomed the approval of the Development Consent Order (DCO) for the expansion of London Luton Airport, a project expected to create thousands of jobs and bring significant economic benefits to the region.
The decision came after years of preparation and a nine-month delay, allowing passenger capacity to increase from 19 million to 32 million over the next two decades.
Council Leader Hazel Simmons described the decision as "fantastic news for Luton," highlighting the long-term development efforts leading up to this point.
"It will create employment, 4,800 jobs in Luton and 11,000 across the region. It's the largest job creation in a generation, so it's absolutely fantastic stuff and really important to my town," she said.
The approval comes shortly after Luton faced job losses due to the closure of the Vauxhall manufacturing plant, which cost the local economy around 1,200 jobs.
Paul Kehoe, Chair of Luton Rising, the company that owns Luton Airport, described the approval as "a sigh of relief and also delighted at the news."
He praised "great leadership by the Secretary of State" in balancing "the requirements of both the environment and the economy" before approving the expansion.
While some local residents may expect immediate changes, Mr Kehoe warned that the growth will be gradual.
He said: "Nothing's going to change overnight. It's as simple as that.
"The market's growing about 3% per annum. So we're looking at sort of 2035–2045 before we see the airport getting towards 32 million."
The project will progress in phases, aligning with environmental commitments and planning conditions.
One of the key factors in securing approval was the airport’s commitment to what it calls "green controlled growth".
However Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander gave the go-ahead to the Bedfordshire airport's development consent order (DCO) application despite advice from the Planning Inspectorate that she should turn it down over environmental concerns.
Luton Rising assured Greatest Hits Radio the environmental concerns were taken into account every step of the way in seven years of planning.
The expansion must meet milestones ensuring emissions control, noise reduction, and sustainable development.
Concerns have further been raised about transportation links to and from the airport, particularly the need for improved east-west rail connections.
Mr Kehoe acknowledged that, and said: "We're sitting at the centre of that Golden Triangle—Cambridge, one side, Oxford, the other side, and London at the bottom—so growth is going to happen, and what we all must do is work to a common purpose."
He also highlighted Luton’s potential role in the wider regional economy, noting its strategic position within government development plans for the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor.
As for the type of flights Luton will serve in the future, the airport assures the focus will remain on short- and medium-haul routes, primarily to European destinations.