The expansion of Luton Airport

In April 2025 the Government decided to ignore their Planning Inspectors’ recommendations and allow a near doubling of passenger numbers at Luton Airport of up to 32 million per annum.

Sadly, despite a number of legal challenges to this decision the Supreme Court announced in August 2026 that there were no grounds to review this decision.

CPRE Bedfordshire’s view

We have campaigned against this expansion every step of the way, objecting to these massive growth plans, 77,000 more flights and over 40,000 extra passengers a year, since they were first proposed.

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.

By ignoring these recommendations, the Government cannot credibly stand by their commitment to ensuring by 2050 we will not be adding to the amount of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in the atmosphere.   

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. They argued 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.

Where we are now?

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.

You can read more about the grounds for the challenge on the LADACAN’s website.

CPRE Bedfordshire will continue to monitor how this proposal now proceeds and its impact on the Bedfordshire Countryside and surrounding areas.