Airport lift off for expansion

The £100m development will take the airport’s annual passenger capacity from 12 million to 18 million by 2031 and is forecast to create 5,000 jobs in and around the town.

The biggest change will be a vast expansion of the airport terminal, which will be remodelled and modernised.

Once complete it will be equipped with a new two storey pier, 15 immigration passenger screening lanes, and up to eight international and one domestic passenger reclaim belts.

>> The long-awaited final section of the Bedford bypass has been given the go-ahead.

Complusory purchase orders issued by the mayor have led to the remaining section of the Bedford bypass being given the green light to proceed.

A series of obstacles has been overcome due to the CPOs acquiring land needed for the road to complete the final section of the Western Bypass. The council has reached agreement with all principal landowners and all objections to the orders have been withdrawn.

The road links the A4280 at Biddenham and Bromham with the A6 at Clapham. Construction starts later this year and it will open in 2016.