We’re just weeks away from perhaps the most important decision in Luton’s history – and Ryebridge Construction is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with everyone in the town in calling for the game-changing airport expansion to go ahead.
The owners of London Luton Airport (LLA), Luton Rising, have applied for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to add a second terminal and increase the number of annual passengers from 19 million to 32 million by the mid-2040s, unlocking £1.5 billion in economic growth.
This includes up to 11,000 new jobs at the airport and in the supply chain across the region, with around 4,800 directly in Luton. These would include fair, high-quality and well-paid jobs that are on average 34 per cent higher than the national average wage.
In addition, expansion would unlock a new Community First Fund providing an additional £1 for every additional passenger over and above the airport’s current capacity to be reinvested into Luton and its neighbouring communities.
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP gave fresh hope to the town in a speech which recognised that airport expansion will bring valuable growth to the UK economy, in which she mentioned the imminent decision on LLA.
Luton Rising has committed to introducing a unique and groundbreaking initiative called the Green Controlled Growth framework, which presents a legally-enforceable and environmentally-approached to managing growth, with maximum limits for greenhouse gas emissions, and controls over noise, air quality and surface access to the airport.
They said: “At a time when how to boost growth is the question on everyone’s lips, we also have a responsibility to minimise the environmental impacts of our progress whilst continuing to deliver sustainable development.”
Their proposals have been supported by more than 10,000 people who have signed a community-led petition, and more than 130 businesses that signed an open letter of support, including Ryebridge Construction.
Ryebridge managing director Sean Scully said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish London Luton Airport as one of the driving forces for growth not only in the immediate area, but across the region.
“It will also ensure life-changing investment into some of the most deprived communities within Luton itself, and help fulfil the goal of it becoming a healthy, fair and sustainable town offering opportunities for everyone to thrive, where nobody has to live in poverty.”
Speaking at a House of Lords reception to promote the DCO, Gurinder Singh Josan CBE, Labour MP for Smethwick, highlighted how the proposed expansion at London Luton Airport will support the Government’s growth agenda.
“Generating jobs is massively important, everything this Government is doing to drive growth ultimately comes down to providing more quality jobs for local people.”
This view was reinforced by Marion Geoffroy, MD of Wizz Air UK, who argued: “We employ 650 people directly from Luton and with the expansion we can aim for hundreds more.”
Alasdair Reisner, CEO of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, agreed: “The country’s big mission now is growth - there are few projects out there that offer a better opportunity around growth. It’s a massive engine for jobs in the local community, but will also inspire growth in the economy and do what only airports can do for the economy.”
Ryebridge has signed the Luton Rising pledge board.