Uttlesford District Council has voted to reject expansion plans for London Stansted Airport (STN/EGSS) despite planning officers recommending approval of the project.
The plans would have included improvements to the airport layout and infrastructure to allow the airport to handle 43 million passengers per year, an increase from the current 28 million.
It also included a plan for a £35m fund for the local area to be spent on transport, soundproofing for local homes that are on the flight path to help with the relocation of homeowners who wished to move out of the flight path.
The council had previously approved the application but a local residents group took control of the council in May and referred the decision back to the committee where 10 councillors voted against the plans, with 2 abstaining going against the advice of its own planning officers.
A spokesperson for Stansted Airport said: “From the outset, we have listened to local communities to put forward an application that delivers the benefits of growth and a comprehensive package of mitigation measures to benefit local communities.”
The airport, which is owned by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), said it will look at the committee’s comments before deciding on its next steps which could be to appeal the decision.
Local business groups have called the decision disappointing and short-sighted.
