Joint CPRE response submitted to Luton Airport expansion application

CPRE Bedfordshire and CPRE Hertfordshire have submitted a joint response to the Application by London Luton Airport Limited for an Order Granting Development Consent for the London Luton Airport Expansion project.

The joint CPREs continue to strongly oppose the proposal to expand Luton Airport from 18 million to 32 million passengers per annum. Our objections are based on matters of both principle and detailed points of concern.

You can read the response in full here: Luton Airport submission June 2023 (PDF)

Our main areas of concern are summarized below.

Landscape and countryside

The proposals will result in significant and irreversible harm to the immediate countryside and beyond. This includes the Chilterns AONB and the Green Belt. In addition, there will be a loss of open space and recreational areas and irreparable damage to Wigmore Park. The increased apron, car parking and airport activity will bring additional light pollution to a wide area of countryside.

Climate Emergency

The proposals flagrantly ignore the reality of the Climate Emergency and the impacts of rapidly expanding aviation, the fastest growing source of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. A 60% increase in flights will result in hugely increased emissions and there is no guarantee that these can be reduced to meet the Government’s commitments.

Noise and Air Pollution

The expansion will cause substantive and further harm to the surrounding countryside and towns by increased noise and air pollution. Further adverse noise impacts are inevitable and underestimated in the submission documents.

Traffic

Significant congestion will be caused by increases in traffic at the site and on approach roads. More road building is proposed, as well as the provision of an additional 7,275 parking spaces. The effects on the local road network are greatly underestimated. The whole approach lacks the required emphasis on sustainable transport and detail of how a significant modal shift to public transport will be achieved.

Economic Forecasts

The economic benefits of the scheme are greatly overestimated and do not justify the harm.