Summary of compensation proposals

We recently wrote to residents living near London Luton Airport to let them know that our application for a Development Consent Order for its long-term sustainable growth has been accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate. The letter further informed residents that they now have an opportunity until 23 June 2023 to comment on the proposals.

This letter was sent to addresses who have been identified as ‘category 3 consultees’, and was a legal requirement of us.

The letter was not primarily about compensation, but also informed those residents that they may be entitled to some form of compensation in the future. This has prompted some questions from residents.

This web page is therefore aimed at providing a brief summary outline of our compensation proposals. Please note that compensation will only apply in the future if:

• We receive consent for the scheme
• We then proceed to expand the airport
• And where there are identified impacts on eligible residents within qualifying criteria.

Why do we have compensation proposals, and why have we mentioned them now?

We believe that the proposed expansion of our airport will create many positive benefits for surrounding communities – including thousands of job opportunities and better connections to friends and family abroad.

We also recognise that, even after applying best practice in design and mitigation measures, some neighbours may still be negatively affected, for example by noise impacts, or if the value of their properties is affected.

Where this happens, we are committed to making sure that residents and businesses are fairly compensated.

In many cases we are proposing to go above and beyond the legal compensation requirements and current best practice.

For full details of our compensation proposals please go to our Draft Compensation Policies, Measures and Community First proposals.

We have proposed four discretionary compensation schemes. These are:

a) Voluntary Acquisition Policy
b) Residential Hardship Policy
c) Noise Insulation Policy
d) Business Assistance Policy

a) Voluntary Acquisition Policy

Under this policy, owners of residential properties within the loudest ‘noise contour’ may wish for us to acquire their property, either now or in the future, so that they can move elsewhere.

Technical note: This policy is for owners of residential properties within the 69dBLAeq, 16h daytime noise contour and 63dBLAeq, 8h night-time noise contour. For an explanation of this, please see the section on Noise Contours below, and the accompanying map. In short, this is defined as an area within which residents are exposed to adverse effects from an ‘unacceptable’ level of noise.

Currently, we do not envisage that any residential properties will be impacted to this degree. However, this policy will remain in place so that if circumstances were to change in a way that is not envisaged, it would still be available to those who demonstrate the criteria is met.

Full details of this policy can be found in Chapter 4 of our Draft Compensation Policies, Measures and Community First proposals.

b) Residential Hardship Policy

Under this policy, owners of the most impacted local residential properties who may find themselves unable to sell their property on the open market because of our expansion proposals, and experience exceptional hardship as a result, may ask us to acquire their property.

Technical note: This policy is for owners of residential properties in the 66dBLAeq, 16h daytime noise contour area and 60dBLAeq, 8h night-time contour area. For an explanation of this, please see the section on Noise Contours below, and the accompanying map.

Full details of this policy, including qualifying criteria, can be found in Chapter 5 of our Draft Compensation Policies, Measures and Community First proposals.

This is the only compensation scheme that can be made available before our proposals are approved. If you think you might have an early claim under this policy, you should please email Alex.fryc@luton.gov.uk

c) Noise Insulation Policy

The airport’s existing Noise Insulation Scheme is run by the airport operator. Details can be found here and any questions relating to applications to the existing scheme should be directed to info@ltn.aero

If our application for development consent be approved, we would improve the existing Noise Insulation Scheme for eligible local homes.

Our proposals have been designed to increase the number of properties which may be eligible and also improve the level of contribution offered.

We would offer five different Noise Insulation Schemes, with each addressing slightly different circumstances:

Scheme 1 – a full package of noise insulation to habitable rooms, including bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms: this scheme is for properties inside the daytime 63dBLAeq, 16h contour.

Scheme 2 – a contribution of up to £20,000 for agreed noise insulation works; this scheme is for properties inside the daytime 60dBLAeq, 16h contour and outside the daytime 63dBLAeq, 16h contour.

Scheme 3 – a full package of noise insulation to bedrooms only; this scheme is for properties inside the night-time 55dBLAeq, 8h contour and outside the daytime 60dBLAeq, 16h contour.

Measures would vary but typically might include:

– Upgrading windows to acoustic double glazing or by the addition of secondary glazing
– Overboarding of ceilings or lofts with additional lining
– Acoustic thermal insulation above ceilings in lofts
– Suitable ventilation so that windows can be kept closed in warm weather.

Scheme 4 – a contribution of up to £6,000 for agreed noise insulation works; this scheme is for properties inside the daytime 57dBLAeq, 16h contour and outside the daytime 60dBLAeq, 16h contour.

Scheme 5 –a contribution of up to £4,000 for agreed noise insulation work; this scheme is for properties inside the daytime 54dBLAeq, 16h contour and outside the daytime 57dBLAeq, 16h contour.

Full details of this policy, including qualifying criteria, can be found in Chapter 6 of our Draft Compensation Policies, Measures and Community First proposals.

d) Business Assistance Policy

The purpose of this policy is to set out what we will do to support businesses in the small number of cases where their relocation will be required to enable delivery of the proposed development.

Full details of this policy can be found in Chapter 7 of our Draft Compensation Policies, Measures and Community First proposals .

Information about noise contours

While we have made every effort to make the information we provide as clear as possible, we appreciate that definitions of noise contours are not easy to understand.

Noise contours are maps which represent how noise exposure varies across an area. These maps can therefore be used to determine eligibility for different Noise Insulation Schemes which have different noise exposures.

Our noise contour maps will be updated every five years.

Our Indicative Noise Contours Plan can be found at Appendix A in our Draft Compensation Policies, Measures and Community First proposals.

Further information about how noise contours are assessed and defined can be found at Appendix B in our Draft Compensation Policies, Measures and Community First proposals.

Where can I read more about your proposals?

All documents associated with our application can be viewed on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

How can I comment on the proposals?

Relevant representations about the scheme are now open and cam be made until 23.59 hours on 23 June 2023. To find out more please go here.