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Luton Airport boss admits strict green targets for expansion 'not going to be easy'

Lord John Hutton, the former Labour cabinet minister charged with delivering the Luton's expansion, said the project would bring about a "new era of economic prosperity"

London Luton Airport in Bedfordshire

Stringent environmental targets for Luton Airport's expansion plans will prove challenging to achieve, according to its new chair, despite his enthusiasm for the project's economic benefits.

Government ministers gave the green light to boost capacity at Luton earlier this year, hot on the heels of approving a colossal Universal Studios theme park and resort in neighbouring Bedford, as reported by .

Lord John Hutton, the former Labour cabinet minister and peer tasked with overseeing Luton's growth, declared that both ventures would usher in a "new era of economic prosperity for everyone in the area" and described their importance as difficult to overstate.

Speaking to City AM, he highlighted the employment opportunities: "There are tens of thousands of jobs that are going to be created here," and added, "New jobs, new careers, you know, you couldn't really make it up. It's a tremendously exciting opportunity."

Luton joins several London airports pushing forward with ambitious plans to significantly increase passenger throughput over the coming decades.

The north east London hub, which operates under Luton Council's ownership via its economic development arm Luton Rising, anticipates passenger numbers will surge to 32 million annually by 2043.

Projections indicate the scheme could inject an additional £1.5 billion into the economy whilst generating up to 11,000 employment opportunities.

Sustainability targets 'not easy'

Lord Hutton acknowledged the significant hurdles that the project still faces, particularly the stringent sustainability criteria set by its Development Consent Order (DCO).