Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise
Local Plan
The local planning authority (LPA) for the Airport is Luton Borough Council (LBC) which, through its subsidiary company London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL), also owns the Airport site. Any application for planning permission in respect of the Airport should be determined by LBC in accordance with the policies in its Local Plan unless the Government “calls it in” for determination by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The main Local Plan policy relating to the Airport is LLA1:
The Borough Council will grant planning permission for development at London Luton Airport (identified as such on the Proposals Map) provided that it:
(i) is airport related; and
(ii) is not in conflict with national or regional government aviation policies; and
(iii) is in accordance with the most recent airport development brief agreed jointly by Luton Borough Council and London Luton Airport Operations Limited; and
(iv) results in an aircraft noise impact that is below the 1999 level; and
(v) incorporates sustainable transportation measures that will be likely to make an appropriate contribution to the achievement of the targets for the modal shift of passengers, visitors and staff travelling to the airport as set out in the most recent Surface Access Strategy; and
(vi) provides car parking facilities that comply with the most recent Surface Access Strategy with regard to: (a) the number and size of spaces; and (b) the location and management of the car parks.
(ii) is not in conflict with national or regional government aviation policies; and
(iii) is in accordance with the most recent airport development brief agreed jointly by Luton Borough Council and London Luton Airport Operations Limited; and
(iv) results in an aircraft noise impact that is below the 1999 level; and
(v) incorporates sustainable transportation measures that will be likely to make an appropriate contribution to the achievement of the targets for the modal shift of passengers, visitors and staff travelling to the airport as set out in the most recent Surface Access Strategy; and
(vi) provides car parking facilities that comply with the most recent Surface Access Strategy with regard to: (a) the number and size of spaces; and (b) the location and management of the car parks.
As far as we are aware, LBC has yet to apply this policy to the many planning applications being lodged by various companies based on the site. LBC appears to take the view that the policy is only to be considered for applications by the Airport operator, a peculiar and perverse interpretation.
Aircraft Noise Impact
The policy in clause (iv) of policy LLA1 requiring noise to be lower than the levels achieved in 1999 was imposed by the Inspector who conducted the inquiry into the Local Plan during 2004. Representations to the inquiry by LADACAN, among others, successfully argued that 1984, the noise benchmark preferred by LBC, was far too permissive.
In fact 1999 is also too generous as, unbeknown to us at the time of the inquiry, there were still aircraft operating at Luton which were classified as Chapter 2 for noise purposes. These were subsequently banned from operating in the European Union to reduce the noise burden on communities near airports.