Luton Airport delivered 15 years' of growth in five years, inquiry hears

An airport delivered 15 years' worth of growth in five years, a planning inquiry heard. Plans to increase London Luton Airport's passenger capacity from 18m to 19m per year and amend noise contours were approved by Luton Borough Council in December. The airport is owned by the council's company, Luton Rising. A public inquiry is taking place after the government said the main aspects of development should be reviewed. The airport is run by a separate private company, London Luton Airport Operations Limited, which submitted the expansion plans. Local protest group Luton and District Association, for the Control of Aircraft Noise has opposed the plans, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Richard Wald KC, representing the group, said: "This is an application borne of over rapid and non-mitigated increase in throughput, which delivered 15 years' growth in just five years, causing an out of balance increase in impacts. The passenger cap was also reached in 2019, nine full years ahead of its expiry and the achievement of a long-term reduction of noise contour areas by 2028."<br/>