Luton Airport’s £2.4bn enlargement hits roadblock as campaigners start authorized motion | UK | News | EUROtoday

London Luton Airport is ready to bear a £2.4 billion enlargement which plans to see a brand new terminal and double its annual passenger numbers in 18 years, after it was authorised by the federal government final month. However, the plans have been met with vital outrage, with campaigners having begun the primary steps of authorized motion towards the governent.

The Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (LADACAN) has claimed the event consent order was granted unlawfully. The affiliation alleged that Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander ignored the advice by planning inspectors that the enlargement be rejected because of environmental considerations. LADACAN has mentioned it had despatched a pre-action protocol letter to the secretary of state informing her of its intention for a judicial evaluation, based on the BBC, a sort of court docket case through which a decide opinions the lawfulness of a choice or motion made by a public physique.

LADACAN mentioned it had appointed a legislation agency and known as on the federal government “to accept that the decision was unlawful”. The affiliation mentioned it anticipated the Transport Secretary to reply to its letter within the coming days.

A Department for Transport spokesperson mentioned it was unable to remark because of “ongoing legal proceedings”.

Among LADACAN’s considerations is faliure to totally assess the potential impression the enlargement could have on local weather change and the way it will be mitigated.

“Everyone can see the worsening effects of climate change, and it’s obvious that the damage it causes comes with huge costs,” mentioned 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 enlargement plans for Luton Airport embrace the constructing of a brand new terminal and new taxiways within the hope of doubling annual passenger numbers to 32 million by 2043. According to Construction Enquirer earlier than the plans had been postponed eight months in the past, the mission is ready to price round £2.4 billion. According to Luton Rising, the airport’s proprietor, increasing the location may create as much as 11,000 jobs.

Luton Rising – itself owned by Luton Borough Council – mentioned the enlargement may deliver “significant economic, employment and social benefits” to the city, a sentiment shared by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who mentioned the choice would assist to “deliver growth”.

In regards to authorized motion, a Luton Rising spokesperson mentioned: “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 final yr, with a complete determine of 16.7 million passengers. The airport recorded its busiest November on document, with 1.1 million passengers, marking a powerful finish to the yr, reported Luton Today.