Address :      London Luton Airport, Airway Way, Luton

                        Other Authority Consultation: Proposed alterations to Airport Way / Airport Approach Road, infill extensions and alterations to terminal buildings, extensions to existing mid or long term car parks, new taxiway (Foxtrot), extensions to the existing taxiway (Alpha) and aircraft parking aprons (including 6 new strands) and a new multi-storey car park linked to terminal building.

Applicant :    Luton Borough Council

The Committee received and considered a report of the Director of Sustainable Communities.  The report summarised the proposals in the Planning Application submitted to Luton Borough Council, provided for submission of specialist responses from Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) Officers and to make comments on the proposals.   

The Major Applications Manager provided the Committee with an overview of the responses which had been received from a number of Officers.  The Committee considered the information and provided the following response to be forwarded to Luton Borough Council by the deadline for responses of 19 February 2013:-

1.            While new jobs are welcome, there is concern that the majority of these will not go to local residents and that neither Luton Airport nor Luton Borough Council have addressed this issue.

Without providing local jobs, the growth of Luton Airport generates a significant downside of traffic congestion, aircraft noise without the benefits of local jobs.

In fact a bigger issue of significantly exacerbating pressure on local housing through migration of new employees from outside of the local area into Central Bedfordshire.

Hence it is essential that employment be focussed in the local area.

·              Information request – assessment of where employees will come from

·              There should be a Local Employment Strategy which will detail how Luton Airport and Luton Borough Council will ensure the majority of jobs created will go to existing local residents.  This would include:-

o             Recruitment locally

o             Provision of apprenticeships

o             Training

o             Work with schools

o             Work with DWP/JCP and local back to work providers

o             This should include a transport strategy and associated investment to ensure Central Bedfordshire Council residents are able to access their jobs

o             Appointment and funding of a Local Employment Co-ordinator

2.            The proposals will create pressure on housing in Central Bedfordshire if new jobs are not for local people.  This housing pressure will negate the economic benefits which may be achieved from this development.

Luton Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council tenancy strategies are conflicting.  Luton Borough Council provides homes for life whilst Central Bedfordshire Council provides homes for five years.

3.            the application needs to provide further information on how night flights may increase or decrease;

3.            it is questioned why no proposal to share profits with those parishes under the flight path who will suffer noise from the aircrafts;

4.            there is concern regarding additional parking problems on roads in Slip End and Caddington;

5.            there should be monitors put under the flight path of aircrafts to monitor noise of landing aircraft.  A noise cap should also be placed on aircrafts up to a specified number of decibels;

6.            the roads around the airport are not considered suitable.  Newlands Road has been highlighted as a dangerous junction;

7.            it has been stated that some feel that this would not be an independent decision by Luton Borough Council;

8.            there should be triple or double glazing provided for residents affected by noise in the areas under and surrounding the flight paths.

RESOLVED

That the Committee:-

1.            inform Luton Borough Council that this Council makes a holding objection on the proposal for the reasons detailed in section 17 of the report;

2.            inform Luton Borough Council of the additional comments in the preamble above.