Luton given go-ahead to double passenger numbers

Luton airport will be allowed to almost double its capacity after the transport secretary overruled inspectors who wanted to block the plan on environmental grounds.

- Gwyn Topham

Heidi Alexander has granted a development consent order for an expanded perimeter and a new terminal. This will allow a rise from 16.7 million passengers last year to about 32 million.

The decision comes despite concerns raised about ancient trees and the impact of more flights on the Chilterns, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

However, Labour sources said the promise of thousands of additional jobs had outweighed environmental considerations.

The airport is also ultimately council-owned, meaning more of its profits are put back into local services. It has promised a "green controlled-growth mechanism", which includes legally binding targets on noise, emissions and access to public transport.