London Stansted airport has been given the go-ahead to increase its annual limit on passenger numbers to 43 million.
The airport currently has a limit of 35 million passengers per year, a figure Stansted has said it expects to reach within five years.
Uttlesford District Council has approved the planning application for the new limit, which the airport says will boost the region’s economic growth, and create 5,000 new jobs.
Stanted says that growth will be accompanied by “a comprehensive package of community measures”, and will be delivered “within existing flights limits and a smaller noise footprint than previous permissions required”.
The airport recently added four new aircraft stands, as part of the airport’s ongoing £600 million transformation programme.
In August Stansted unveiled new computer generated images of its forthcoming £130 million Arrivals Terminal, set to open in 2020.
And in September the airport revealed plans to secure direct services to “at least” 25 new long-haul destinations over the next five years.
Commenting on the news London Stansted’s CEO, Ken O’Toole, said:
“We are delighted that Uttlesford District Council has today approved our planning application to enable the airport to grow over the next decade. This will boost our region’s economic growth and deliver 5,000 additional jobs at London Stansted Airport.
“Today’s decision offers London Stansted and its airline partners the long-term clarity we need to make further investment decisions at the airport but also importantly provides the local community with the assurance that our future growth will be delivered in a measured and sustainable way.
“From the outset our local community has been a vital partner in this planning process and it was their feedback which lead us to put forward a proposal which did not seek an increase in the number of flights and committed to deliver the growth within a smaller noise footprint than our existing permissions require.
“The decision is great news for the airport, our staff and the growth ambitions of the region, London and the wider UK and will improve passenger choice and convenience and boost international long-haul routes to fast-growing markets like China, India and the US.
“The combination of the strong economic health of our catchment, our available runway capacity, the £600 million investment we are making in our facilities and the continuing desire of local residents to travel by air by London Stansted, will collectively ensure that the airport has a bright future.
“I’d like to thank the hundreds of local residents, businesses, staff and on-site partners who have passionately backed our plans and I look forward to working with them all as we move into the next phase of our future.“
