The Hemel Hempstead MP has called on residents to have their say on the Luton Airport expansion planning application.

Sir Mike Penning has condemned Luton Airport authorities for their attempt to bypass a noise limit requirement in order to increase airport capacity, as the airport plans to bring in 19 million passengers per year.

Hundreds of people have spent time and effort submitting their objections to a planning application, which limits the noise the airport is permitted to make.

However, the airport authorities have now withdrawn that application in order to submit an alternative application, this effectively wipes out all those objections.

Sir Mike said: “This new application will cause just as much, if not more, noise and traffic as the previous one. Yet by withdrawing and reapplying with a similar application, all the objections are lost.

“I am very concerned about noise levels over Flamstead, Markyate and surrounding settlements. I am especially concerned at any increase in night flights.”

The Hemel Hempstead MP continued: “I am also concerned that the much-reduced number of flights during the covid pandemic plays into the airport’s hands as people will have forgotten what it is like to be woken up by an increasing number of flights at night or very early in the morning.

“I am not anti-airport. I know that it is very useful – in normal times – for many of my constituents and also provides a lot of employment opportunities, but no one expected it to expand at such a shocking rate.

“It is also, to be fair, difficult to know for sure how air travel will look both after the pandemic and now with additional focus on environmental and climate impacts. It is too soon to be thinking about large scale expansion.”

However a London Luton Airport spokesperson explained that it is important to submit an application now, to prepare for "future success."

The spokesperson said: “The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on the UK aviation sector, wiping out more than 20 years’ of passenger growth in a matter of months.

"By submitting this application now, we are preparing the airport for future success and creating reassurance for the thousands of people and the many local businesses who rely on us through the supply chain. While we are focused on our short term survival it’s imperative that we take steps now to ensure LLA is in the best possible position to recover and play its part in the local and national recovery.

“Our application, which does not require any physical change to the airport, sets out how we will make best use of the existing site and includes a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment.

"Any future growth will be in line with our Responsible Business Strategy. We encourage residents, businesses and users of the airport to have their say on the plans, which are publically available on the local authority’s planning portal.”

Anyone living in areas that could be affected by the airport expansion is asked to make their objects known on the Luton Borough Council planning portal, or to get more information at: https://planning.luton.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=QMRHGXKGFQH00