'Environment fears taken seriously' - airport boss

Environmental concerns over London Luton Airport's approved expansion plans are being taken "very seriously", the airport's boss has said.

On Thursday, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander approved the plans that would see a new terminal, new taxiways and an increase in annual passengers up to 32 million by 2043.

However, environmental campaigners said "70,000 more aircraft a year" was the "last thing" the environment needed.

Alberto Martin, chief executive of the airport, said the plans had a "legally binding framework" that put limits on noise and carbon emissions.

"Already we do have the highest proportion of any airport in Europe of the most modern aircraft," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"We're talking about the quietest aircraft up there in the skies, the most fuel efficient... sustainability remains at the centre of these plans and they come with the most far reaching and robust environmental commitments of any UK airport.

"It comes with a very innovative scheme. It's called Green Control Growth, and it's actually a legally binding framework with limits... on noise, limits on carbon emissions, limits on air quality and surface access.

"Those limits will need to be met in order for the airport to be allowed to grow."

But countryside charity CPRE said the expansion made "a mockery" of the government's "commitment to reaching net zero by 2030".

Local campaign group LADACAN said the "increasing cost of damage caused by climate change" outweighed any benefits.

Mr Martin said the airport worked closely with the airlines to ensure they used the most modern and efficient aircraft.

"It's important to know that aviation is twice as efficient as it was 30 years ago and technology continues evolving," he added.

"Believe me when I tell you we are extremely conscious of those impacts."

The plans were approved by the government despite the Planning Inspectorate recommending they be rejected over the environmental concerns.

After the approval, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "This decision will help us deliver growth as part of our plan for change."

Luton was the UK's fifth busiest airport last year, with 16.9 million people travelling on 132,000 flights.

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