$450m expansion of London City Airport granted planning permission

London City Airport has been given permission to go ahead with a $450m expansion plan that will fit it with seven extra stands, a parallel taxiway and an extended terminal.

The plan, which was approved by the government yesterday, will increase the airport’s capacity from 4.3 million passengers to 6.5 million by 2025.

The airport said the expansion would create "world-class terminal facilities, more space and facilitate a greater frequency of flights". It will allow passengers to fly from London Docklands to destinations such as the Middle East, Turkey, Russia and the east coast of the US.

The expansion will create 1,600 jobs for staff and 500 temporary construction roles.

The UK government says the expansion could contribute £1.5bn ($2bn) to the UK economy by 2025.

Funding will also be awarded to the Docklands Light Railway, which runs to the airport, as well as a bus and taxi access scheme and improvements to walking and cycle routes.

Philip Hammond, the chancellor of the exchequer, said: "London City Airport’s ambitious growth plans will boost international connections, strengthening the City of London’s links to destinations across the world, and send a clear signal that Britain is open for business."

Caroline Russell, a Green party London assembly member, is quoted by the BBC saying: "From not being able to sleep with the windows open due to aircraft noise at night, to higher levels of asthma in children who live in the area, people in east London are really going to suffer because of this reckless decision."

London City Airport is owned by a consortium made up of the Canadian pension funds and the Kuwait Investment Authority.

Image: London City Airport’s main terminal building (Wikimedia Commons/calflier001)