By 2031 the skies across St Albans and neighbouring areas will be overflown by an additional nine million passengers, after Luton Airport gained final planning consent to nearly double capacity.
The airport’s owner, Luton borough council, has given the go-ahead for the £100 million redevelopment of the airfield, enabling it to fly 18 million people a year.
It follows a recent announcement by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles that he had decided against calling in the application for further scrutiny by independent planning officials.
Construction work will take place over three phases and includes a larger, modernised terminal building to accommodate and equip up to 20 security and 15 immigration passenger screening lanes and up to eight international passenger reclaim belts.
There will also be increased retail, catering, circulation and seating areas, newly configured road system and a multi-storey car park built.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here