Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what were the reasons for the three delays to the decision on the development consent order for the expansion of London Luton Airport; and when a decision on that order is expected to be made.

The Examining Authority’s report on the application by London Luton Airport Limited for consent for the London Luton Airport Expansion Development Consent Order was received by the Secretary of State on 10 May 2024.

On 24 May 2024, the statutory deadline was extended from 10 August 2024 to 4 October 2024. This was due to the General Election and to allow appropriate time for any new Secretary of State to consider the application.

On 12 September 2024, the statutory deadline for the decision was further extended to 3 January 2025 to enable the applicant further time to provide requested information, and for that information to be considered, including by Interested Parties, before the final determination of the application.

On 17 December 2024, the deadline for the decision was further extended to 3 April 2025 to allow the newly appointed Secretary of State appropriate time to fully consider this complex application before making a final determination.

The statutory deadline for a decision is therefore 3 April 2025, although a decision can be taken sooner should the Secretary of State be in a position to do so. This remains a live application to be determined by the Department and it is therefore not appropriate to comment on the application further.