London Stansted airport has been given the green light to extend its existing terminal building.
The project was unveiled this summer, and has now been granted planning permission by the Planning Inspectorate.
It follows the shelving of plans for a separate Arrivals Halls at the airport in 2019.
A three-bay extension will now be built at the back of the existing terminal building, adding 16,500 sqm of capacity.
The scheme will create a more spacious departure lounge, with more seating, shops, bars and restaurants, as well as additional check-in desks, increased baggage capacity and a larger security hall with more lanes.
The project is one of several investment plans recently unveiled at UK airports, including the construction of a £50 million security screening hall at Birmingham airport, a £100 million regeneration of Leeds Bradford airport, and a £100 million investment at Belfast City airport.
Commenting on the news Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s managing director, said: “Our plans will transform the airport experience for everyone connected with London Stansted, so today’s decision by the Planning Inspectorate to approve our scheme is excellent news for our passengers, colleagues, airport partners and the region we serve.
“Stansted is now entering a new phase in its history, as we look to serve more passengers than ever before. Our unique and growing route network, and easy access to and from London and the east of England, is a fantastic platform to build on. We know Stansted will have a critical role to play in serving the future capacity needs of London.
“Being a single terminal airport enables us to offer the millions of passengers who choose us each year a simple, efficient and reliable experience when they fly. This is something they clearly value and enjoy when choosing which airport to use, so they can be confident our plans will build on this success and make every airport journey even better in the future.
“Stansted is a national and regional asset, and our investment plans are not only an exciting prospect for our passengers and colleagues, they will also boost our competitiveness within the London aviation market, which in turn will support economic growth, jobs and vital international connectivity for London and the East of England.
“Our aim is to be the airport of choice for even more passengers, and we are confident we can achieve that goal by further enhancing our facilities and attracting even more airlines to the airport to provide the best range of destinations.”