Our multidisciplinary experts helped secure DCO approval for the expansion of the UK’s fifth-biggest airport – setting the stage for new jobs, greater connectivity and sustainable growth. Here’s how.
Located 30 miles north of central London, London Luton Airport is one of the UK’s busiest aviation hubs – a key gateway for millions of passengers each year.
As demand for air travel grows, London Luton Airport is preparing for its most significant transformation yet. Plans are now underway to nearly double the airport’s annual capacity to 32 million passengers by 2043, allowing its runway to be used for up to approximately 78,000 more flights per year than in 2024.
Beyond meeting this growing demand, the expansion is expected to boost regional economic growth and strengthen the resilience of the UK’s aviation network.
With DCO (Development Consent Order) approval granted in April 2025, the project includes a new terminal, piers and stands, airfield and landside development, and associated infrastructure improvements.
We have been working with airport owners Luton Rising as Technical Advisor since 2017, providing multidisciplinary expertise throughout the DCO submission and examination phase. As the scheme progresses towards construction, we look forward to continuing to support the ongoing development of this nationally significant project.
Successfully navigating the DCO process
In the UK, all projects classed as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) must go through the DCO application process. We’ve supported this project at every stage – from early optioneering and technical design, to environmental assessment, planning and stakeholder engagement, through to submission.
Our team played a key role in preparing a robust, evidence-based DCO application and supporting the client through multiple rounds of consultation, legal compliance, and examination hearings. This ensured that the case for expansion was clearly demonstrated, and that environmental impacts were robustly assessed and appropriately mitigated.
The DCO application was approved by the Secretary of State for Transport in April 2025.
Working as one team
To accommodate the airport’s additional capacity, the expansion will make best use of the existing runway through the phased construction of additional airside and landside infrastructure. This includes new aircraft stands, taxiways, piers and a passenger terminal to the northeast of the runway, alongside improvements to surface access and utilities.
Given the scale of the proposed developments, the project demanded effective coordination, as well as the ability to adapt quickly in a high-pressure environment.
From the outset, we worked as one team – bringing together specialists from across multiple disciplines including aviation, architecture, planning, environment, ground investigation, stakeholder engagement, consultation and construction. We also worked closely with teams from other consultancies, ensuring strong coordination throughout. This integrated approach meant every element of the DCO application was aligned, evidence-based, and delivered to the highest standard.
As part of the DCO journey, we supported the evaluation of design options for the new terminal and airfield infrastructure, and delivered detailed assessments covering climate resilience, waste management, acoustics and archaeology. We also carried out strategic transport modelling to assess future network impacts and inform essential infrastructure upgrades.
Stakeholder engagement was another key component. Our team contributed to multiple rounds of consultation – including two statutory consultations in 2019 and 2022 – ensuring that community feedback was integrated and that the DCO submission met the rigorous standards required for approval.
During the second statutory phase, our digital experts developed a bespoke virtual consultation platform to ensure continued engagement during coronavirus restrictions.
Our team played a key role in preparing a robust, evidence-based DCO application and supporting the client through multiple rounds of consultation, legal compliance, and examination hearings.
Balancing London Luton Airport’s expansion with environmental responsibility
A defining feature of the project is the introduction of a groundbreaking Green Controlled Growth (GCG) framework – believed to be the “most far-reaching commitment to the sustainable operation of an airport ever put forward in the UK.”
GCG sets limits on key environmental impacts, including noise, carbon emissions, air quality, and surface access. Monitoring will be carried out by London Luton Airport Operations Ltd (LLAOL), with results published for public scrutiny and subject to independent oversight to determine whether further growth can proceed in line with the framework.
Our environmental specialists worked closely with Luton Rising to shape this innovative framework, helping to ensure that growth can be sustainably managed over time.
In addition, the scheme includes wider sustainability measures, such as enhanced solar energy generation, rainwater harvesting and improvements to Wigmore Valley Park and other surrounding green spaces.
As part of a value engineering exercise during the DCO design process, the scheme layout was revised to significantly reduce the extent of earthworks required. This redesign avoided the excavation of approximately 2,000,000 cubic metres of material – helping to reduce construction impacts and minimise disruption for nearby communities.
Stimulating economic growth and supporting communities
Thanks to our longstanding DCO expertise and the excellent collaboration across teams, the project is now consented and ready to move into delivery. As well as meeting future passenger demand, the expansion of London Luton Airport is designed to deliver long-term social and economic benefits.
Not only is it set to create up to 11,000 new jobs and generate around £1.5 billion in additional economic activity each year, but it will also deliver up to an additional £13 million annually on top of Luton Rising’s already class-leading social investment – supporting local communities, charities and wider regeneration efforts across the region.