London Luton Airport is set to undergo a £2.4 billion expansion which plans to see a new terminal and double its annual passenger numbers in 18 years, after it was approved by the government last month. However, the plans have been met with significant outrage, with campaigners having begun the first steps of legal action against the governent.
The Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (LADACAN) has claimed the development consent order was granted unlawfully. The association alleged that Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander ignored the recommendation by planning inspectors that the expansion be rejected due to environmental concerns. LADACAN has said it had sent a pre-action protocol letter to the secretary of state informing her of its intention for a judicial review, according to the BBC, a type of court case in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body.
LADACAN said it had appointed a law firm and called on the government “to accept that the decision was unlawful”. The association said it expected the Transport Secretary to respond to its letter in the coming days.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said it was unable to comment due to “ongoing legal proceedings”.
Among LADACAN’s concerns is faliure to fully assess the potential impact the expansion will have on climate change and how it would be mitigated.
“Everyone can see the worsening effects of climate change, and it’s obvious that the damage it causes comes with huge costs,” said Andrew Lambourne, the organisation’s chair. “This in turn harms the UK economy, which suggests that the government should be dampening demand for carbon-intensive activities such as frequent flying, rather than encouraging it.”
The expansion plans for Luton Airport include the building of a new terminal and new taxiways in the hope of doubling annual passenger numbers to 32 million by 2043. According to Construction Enquirer before the plans were postponed eight months ago, the project is set to cost around £2.4 billion. According to Luton Rising, the airport’s owner, expanding the site could create up to 11,000 jobs.
Luton Rising – itself owned by Luton Borough Council – said the expansion could bring “significant economic, employment and social benefits” to the town, a sentiment shared by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said the decision would help to “deliver growth”.
In regards to legal action, a Luton Rising spokesperson said: “Luton Rising has received a copy of the pre-action protocol letter that was submitted to the secretary of state on behalf of LADACAN, and we are considering the grounds of challenge and determining our response and involvement in the legal case.”
Luton was the UK’s fifth busiest airport last year, with a total figure of 16.7 million passengers. The airport recorded its busiest November on record, with 1.1 million passengers, marking a strong end to the year, reported Luton Today.