A government decision on £2.4 billion plans to expand Luton airport have been delayed by three months.
This will put back the deadline for a ruling from January 3 to April 3 – the third delay on determining whether the project should be given the green light.
The plans involve raising the passenger cap from 18 million to 32 million passengers a year by developing the existing terminal and building a second.
The extension will give new transport secretary Heidi Alexander “appropriate time” to fully consider the “complex” application before making a final determination, a written statement to Parliament said on Tuesday.
“The department [Department for Transport] will, however, endeavour to issue a decision ahead of the deadline above where possible.”
The third delay in the application for “long-term sustainable growth” of the airport was met with disappointment from Luton Rising, the Luton Council company that oversees the facility.
The verdict has been delayed twice from an original deadline of August 10.
Airport chief executive Alberto Martin said “The plans for London Luton airport promise sustainable, long-term growth, generating billions of pounds for the economy and creating thousands of jobs for Luton and the surrounding area.
“We urge the transport secretary to make a decision as quickly as possible in the new year.”
Luton Rising independent chair Paul Kehoe said: “This is now the third delay for a decision and naturally we are disappointed as we are ready to move forward with our plans as quickly as possible and bring in investment to start delivering the benefits.
“Equally. we want to ensure the decision-making is robust so stand ready to provide any additional information that might be requested of us.”
He added: “Our application highlights how the long-term sustainable growth of London Luton airport will bring incredible and transformational economic, employment and positive social impact benefits for Luton and the neighbouring regions.
“With over 11,000 new jobs, it would be the region’s biggest job creation programme in a generation, adding an additional £1.5 billion more in the economy each year.
“Airport expansion is central to our mission to raising the standard of living and tackling deprivation in a town where poverty is too high and is fully deliverable without the need for any government investment.
“London Luton Airport is already by far the UK’s most socially impactful airport, as we’ve provided over £300 million to support important council front-line services since 1998, together with an additional £180 million for vital voluntary, community and charitable organisations.
“Expansion would add an additional £13 million more each year for local community organisations.”
He noted: “As we’ve demonstrated all along, we will not grow at the expense of the environment and believe our proposals have some of the most far-reaching commitments to the sustainable operation of an airport ever put forward in the UK.
“Our unique and ground-breaking green controlled growth framework would introduce maximum limits for the airport’s noise, greenhouse gases, air quality and surface access impacts which would be governed by a new independent body with the ability to call a halt to growth if the airport does not keep within the limits.
“We look forward to a decision being made as quickly as possible.”