Hertfordshire County Council warns Stansted Airport ‘ploughing ahead’ with growth ‘would be unwise and a mistake’

Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) has warned Stansted Airport against “ploughing ahead” with expansion to 51 million passengers a year.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which operates the Uttlesford hub on Bishop’s Stortford’s doorstep, wants to lift the existing 43 million-a-year cap on travellers and is expected to submit a planning application later this year.

At the end of 2024, Stansted published a 100-page draft Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) and said it could expand passenger capacity without increasing the number of flights it handles or extending its site boundary.

Last month MAG began public consultation on the plan, which sets out how to make best use of its single runway.

The operator proposes improvements to M11 Junction 8 to reduce congestion; ensuring half of all passenger journeys to and from the airport are by public transport, to relieve pressure on local roads; funds for local bus services, roads and measures to tackle fly-parking; working with train operators to improve the Stansted Express; and airport infrastructure powered by 100% renewable energy, helping to achieve Net Zero by 2038.

Responding to the consultation, the county council said it recognised and welcomed the economic benefits and jobs that growth would bring.

However, it called for a delay in publication of the final SDP until it contains evidence and detailed proposals for mitigating concerns.

The council said the price for growth should not be adverse impacts on the environment and communities in Hertfordshire, particularly noise and air quality.

HCC called on Stansted to “come forward with proposals to ensure that access to and from the airport can be managed effectively”. The council says access by public transport must be a priority.

Herts called for “a package of exceptional environmental control mechanisms, surface access solutions and positive benefits to communities” plus a scheme that is “fully compatible with the country’s carbon/climate change commitments”.

Cllr Stephen Boulton, HCC’s executive member for sustainable economic growth, said: “The country is committed to economic growth and we appreciate the benefits any expansion at Stansted could bring, but ploughing ahead to the detriment of local people would be unwise and a mistake.

“We are clear that any growth or expansion must be sustainable and of benefit to the local area, including those just over the border here in Hertfordshire.

“That is why we have set out quite clearly as part of our response that congestion, additional noise and any adverse impact on the environment must be mitigated.”