A COUNCIL boss says he “resolutely supports” colleagues’ decision to block the expansion of Stansted Airport.

Uttlesford Council's planning committee went against the recommendation of the authority's own officers and threw out Stansted Airport's proposals to increase passenger numbers each year to 43 million.

The scheme had previously been backed in principle by the council when it was under Conservative control but it was then referred back to the planning committee when the Residents for Uttlesford group became the leading party following the local elections in May last year.

Councillors performed a full u-turn and rejected the application during a meeting last Friday.

Key reasons behind the decision were concerns over noise, air quality and the impact the expansion would have on climate change.

The committee argued material planning matters had changed since approval was granted in November 2018.

However, officers had said in their pre-meeting report there were no new material considerations to justify a different decision.

In a statement issued after last week’s crucial meeting, Uttlesford Council leader John Lodge said: “The planning committee found material and sound planning reasons why the application should not be approved.

“Expanding Stansted up to the size of Gatwick is unnecessary as it can continue to be a major employer and contributor to the regional economy without this expansion.

“Crucially any expansion is incompatible with the council’s own climate and environmental emergency, and at odds with the Government’s carbon net-zero 2050 target.

“The airport is a for-profit business and it needs to play its part.

“It is likely that the airport’s owners will appeal this decision, leading to the first test case that pits the demands of the private transport sector against the moral imperative on us all to halt climate change.

“If that happens we would hope that environmental groups would join the defence of any appeal.”

Stansted Airport was quick to express its frustration at the council's ruling but has remained coy on whether it will launch an appeal.

A spokesman said: "From the outset, we have listened to local communities to put forward an application that delivers the benefits of growth and a comprehensive package of mitigation measures to benefit local communities.

"We are naturally disappointed the planning committee has chosen to consciously ignore the recommendations of not only its own officers but also the additional advice it commissioned at significant cost to the taxpayer from independent technical experts and lawyers.

"The conclusions of this advice were clear that there should be no impediment to granting approval.

"We will now carefully consider the comments made by the planning committee before deciding our next steps."