Calls to delay airport expansion over concerns

A council has called for expansion plans at London Stansted Airport to be delayed over concerns about air quality and noise levels.

The owner of the Essex terminal is expected to submit fresh proposals in order to increase passenger capacity to a limit of 51 million people per annum.

But Hertfordshire County Council, which governs an area bordering the airport, called for a pause on the project in its official response to a consultation.

Conservative cabinet member Stephen Boulton said: "Ploughing ahead to the detriment of local people would be unwise and a mistake."

In 2023, the government's Planning Inspectorate approved the airport's proposal for a £600m project, which would include a bigger departure lounge, security hall and an extension to the terminal building.

This would increase its passenger capacity to 43 million - up from 35 million. About 29.3 million took flight from Stansted in the year to September.

Funding for Stansted's initial expansion was approved in October 2024, as part of £1.1bn in government investment which would see it become the UK's second biggest airport defined by passenger numbers.

As part of the airport's latest Sustainable Development Plan, it further wants to increase the passenger capacity to 51 million.

The latest proposals outline plans to improve access to the airport from junction eight of the M11.

It said it did not want to surpass its already approved limit of 274,000 annual aircraft movements and was not asking for a second runway.

The public consultation on the document closed on Monday.

The Conservative-run county council wants the delay until "such time as [the plan] contains evidence and detailed proposals on how concerns will be mitigated".

"It recognises and welcomes the economic benefits and jobs that growth in the airport would bring," a spokesperson said.

However, as well as concerns over the environment, it recommended any proposals needed to ensure airport access "can be managed effectively, both in terms of road and rail and other modes" and "access by public transport has to be a priority given the constraints already experienced on the road network".

The local authority also said the project "must be fully compatible with the country's carbon and climate change commitments" and be accompanied by "a package of exceptional environmental control mechanisms, surface access solutions and positive benefits to communities".

Stephen Boulton, the executive member for sustainable economic growth, said: "We are clear growth or expansion must be sustainable and of benefit to the local area."

A spokesperson for the terminal, which is owned by the Manchester Airports Group, said: "Over the last five weeks, the airport has been engaging with local residents, businesses, passengers, students and councillors on London Stansted's long-term plan for sustainable growth.

They added "the airport team will carefully review and consider all responses to the consultation before finalising its sustainable development plan and submitting a planning application within the next few months".

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