Legal challenge to the expansion of Luton Airport – High Court decision

The High Court has considered the legal challenge to allow almost a doubling of flights at the Airport

CPRE Bedfordshire’s view

We have been objecting to these massive growth plans, which allow Luton Airport to nearly double its passenger numbers to 32 million per year, since they were first proposed. This equates to 77,000 more flights a year and over 40,000 extra passengers a day.

The expansion will have a devastating impact on the surrounding area including the Chilterns National Landscape, the Green Belt and the award-winning Wigmore Park. The local infrastructure can’t cope with this level of growth which will cause significant noise and air pollution affecting residents across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and adjoining areas.

What did the Independent Planning Inspectors say?

All these concerns were recognised by the Inspectors who in their lengthy report concluded that the substantial harm caused by “additional noise, increase in traffic, the effects on the Chilterns, the release of additional greenhouse gas emissions, landscape and visual effects and the effect on heritage assets” outweighed the socio-economic benefits, including job creation. Because of this they recommended the application for expansion should be refused.

The call for a judicial review

After taking legal advice the action group Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (LADACAN) together with other local groups launched a call for a judicial review arguing that the government acted unlawfully when it granted the scheme permission as, amongst other reasons, the impact on climate change had not been properly assessed.

In July 2026 Supreme Court declined to grant campaigners final permission to appeal, concluding proceedings over the proposals. This now makes way for the official approval of the airport expansion.

LADACAN will continue to scrutinise the operation of the airport expansion.

What can I do?

You can read more about the grounds for the challenge and donate to LADACAN’s crowdfunding appeal.