Stansted Airport expansion delayed to review more evidence including new UK Carbon Net Zero 2050 legislation

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Councillors at Uttlesford District Council have voted to delay the approval on the planning application for the Stansted Airport expansion to consider new material evidence, including the new UK Carbon Net Zero 2050 legislation.

The issuing of the planning approval for the expansion was delayed by Uttlesford District Councillors just before the May 2019 local elections. In the elections the Conservative administration was swept away by local party Residents for Uttlesford. At an Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 28th June the new council decided that the expansion should delayed again so it can be re-examined. At the meeting a petition was also presented by more than 1,600 local residents urging the council to do just that.

John Lodge (R4U)John Lodge (R4U)

R4U’s Cllr John Lodge, Uttlesford District Council Leader said “There is a strong belief that the previous Conservative council administration tried to rush through the expansion before the May election. Stansted Airport is a significant part of our district and is nationally important, so it has to be done properly. The proposed expansion to nearly the size of Gatwick will bring jobs, but it will have a big negative impact on surrounding communities, our roads and railways, and particularly the environment. These impacts must be properly mitigated and so the council has voted for a new review before planning is granted.”

UDC Leader John Lodge added “Very importantly there are also new material considerations that directly relate to aviation. The UK’s brand new Carbon Net Zero 2050 legislation was signed in to law this week; a recent High Court decision backed Heathrow’s 3rd runway; the government’s issued its Aviation 2050 strategy; and the European airport association has agreed their own Climate Change Net Zero initiative. These must now also be considered. If the airport’s owners appeal this decision, it could well be the UK’s first test case for the new Carbon Net Zero 2050 legislation.”

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About Residents for Uttlesford

Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) is the local independent party of north-west Essex towns and villages. It believes that on local issues residents should decide, not Westminster parties. R4U’s success has been based on the desire to give local people a voice and implement long range strategic and sustainable plans for where they live. It has turned around both councils it has been elected to lead to make them now multi award-winning.

R4U leads Uttlesford District Council (UDC). In its first election in 2015 it became the second party at UDC. In May 2019, it gained majority control of the authority by inflicting the biggest loss of seats on any Conservative controlled council in the UK. In May 2023, R4U retained control of UDC.

R4U also leads Saffron Walden Town Council, where under its stewardship the council since 2015 it has rebuilt finances, invested in community assets, and won multiple awards, including the best run council in Essex.

Residents for Uttlesford can be found on the web at www.residents4u.org.

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