PLANS for a further three runways at Luton Airport have nothing to do with those who own it, it has been confirmed.

Luton Borough Council – a major stakeholder in the airport – has said it has no knowledge of a report submitted to the Airports Commission by Weston Williamson & Partners.

A spokesman said: “Neither the council nor London Luton Airport Ltd were aware of the report submitted by a firm of architects who confirmed today that they were acting out of their own professional interest.

“Having viewed the document, we do not believe that these plans are workable. The idea of positioning a new airport immediately to the south of Luton was first raised in a 2005 masterplan which was subsequently found to be unrealistic, largely because of cost and the site’s valley location. While we recognise the need for a UK hub airport to be located within the south-east of England, neither the topography of this site nor the current airport is suited to the requirement.

“Plans to expand London Luton Airport are solely focussed on increasing capacity at the airport from around 10 million to circa 18 million passengers per year by 2025, from the existing single runway and within the current boundary of the site. We do not believe that a second runway at Luton is viable.

“We are pleased that their thinking confirms Luton’s strengths as a great location to do business, with excellent transport links, however the theory behind the report has not been discussed with the airport owner or the people of Luton and its surrounding communities. Had it been, we may have been able to explain the impracticalities of their desktop research proposal.”