Hertfordshire County Council has raised concerns over Stansted Airport’s expansion plans in a newly published formal response.
Stansted submitted a formal planning application to Uttlesford District Council earlier this year to increase its capacity to between 48 and 51 million passengers a year by 2040.
But Hertfordshire County Council said it’s concerned about the impact of increased passenger numbers on its road and rail networks.
Executive Member for Environment, Transport and Growth Councillor Paul Zukowskyj said: “As a council, we want to see the entire country prosper, but not to the detriment of local people and businesses who may be negatively impacted by the proposals currently being put forward.
“Expansion at Stansted would, of course, bring economic benefits, but I question how much of those benefits will be seen by those whose lives will be blighted by increased traffic, pollution and most importantly, noise. However, the local planning authority simply pushing on at this stage without specialist technical advice would be a mistake.
“We are clear that any growth or expansion must be sustainable and of benefit to the local area, including to those just over the border here in Hertfordshire.”
Hertfordshire County Council said it is ‘cautiously optimistic that expansion can be brought forward within the environmental limits already in place’, but called on Uttlesford Council to commission independent advice to confirm this will be the case.
