Huge expansion plans for London City Airport have been cleared by the government.
The project to increase the airport’s capacity from 6.5 million people annually to 9 million will move forward after deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and transport secretary Louise Haigh approved the programme, which has been in the pipeline since 2016.
Newham Council had argued that air and noise pollution would affect people living nearby, and that any expansion could lead to higher carbon emissions.
But the two ministers found that the proposals “would ensure compliance with national policy” on climate change. They also considered the Mayor of London’s goal of reaching net zero by 2030, but said the target did “not currently have statutory weight […] and that aviation emissions are a matter which are controlled under other national control regimes”.
Rayner and Haigh also found the package of economic benefits for the wider area to be “substantial”. By 2031, they said the expansion would deliver an additional 1,340 jobs at the site and a further 4,470 jobs in London compared with 2019 figures.
Rayner and Haigh did, however, refuse to grant approval to a plan to extend the airport’s operating hours on Saturdays until 6.30pm. Currently, it closes at 12.30pm.
During the week, the airport will now be able to fly three extra flights during the first half-hour of operations.
In 2020, plans to expand London City Airport were put on hold after aviation demand was hit amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The green light for the development comes after the Labour government promised to move ahead with big construction programmes that have been mired in planning issues.
Proposals are also in the works for the expansion of airports in Southampton, Manchester and Luton.
