Campaigners considering appeal after High Court ruling upholding plans for Luton Airport expansion
Campaigners are considering appealing a ruling by the High Court that upheld the Transport Secretary’s decision to green light plans for the expansion of Luton Airport.
Posted on 08 December 2025
Campaigners are considering appealing a ruling by the High Court that upheld the Transport Secretary’s decision to green light plans for the expansion of Luton Airport.
The judgment follows a legal challenge by campaign group LADACAN (Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise) to the lawfulness of the Transport Secretary’s decision to overrule planning inspectors who recommended permission should be refused.
But in a ruling handed down today, a judge dismissed the legal challenge.
Plans for the airport expansion were submitted in February 2023, proposing a new terminal with the potential to double the airport's annual passenger capacity with a significant increase in flights.
The plans were subjected to a six-month examination period by planning inspectors. In May 2024, they concluded that the proposed economic benefits of the expansion did not outweigh the negative environment impacts, and recommended that planning permission be refused.
However, in April 2025 Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander opted to grant development consent for the expansion, and the following month, LADACAN initiated legal proceedings.
LADACAN’s grounds for arguing against the lawfulness of the decision included that the plans failed to adequately assess the direct and indirect impacts on climate change, and did not correctly identify how the impacts would be governed.
Following a hearing in November, the High Court has upheld the Transport Secretary’s decision to grant development consent. LADACAN is considering appealing.
Andrew Lambourne, chair of LADACAN, said:
“Everyone – except apparently the Government – can see the worsening effects of global warming. We believe it is reckless to continue piecemeal airport expansion based on poorly evidenced claims of economic benefit, whilst ignoring the ever-increasing costs of damage caused by climate change.”
Leigh Day partner Ricardo Gama, who represents LADACAN, said:
“While our clients are clearly disappointed about this result, they are considering all options, including an appeal to the Court of Appeal.”
Ricardo Gama
Ricardo specialises in judicial review claims, in particular on environmental issues.
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