Mace Consult lands Luton Airport growth role

Mace Consult has been appointed to a key delivery role on the expansion of London Luton Airport, supporting a programme designed to increase capacity to as many as 32 million passengers a year.

Luton Rising, the Luton Council-owned company that owns the airport, has appointed Mace Consult to provide programme, project, cost and commercial management services as the expansion moves towards implementation.

Mace will work with Arcadis to establish the programme schedule, systems, controls and decision-making frameworks needed to coordinate delivery while maintaining airport operations.

The appointment follows the growth programme receiving its final green light in August 2026, after development consent was granted by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2025.

The integrated delivery plan will combine incremental capacity improvements with the continued operation of the airport, requiring the project team to coordinate interfaces and manage risks across the programme.

Mace Consult’s responsibilities will include programme integration and planning, design management, commercial assurance, risk management, stakeholder engagement, consents advice and information management.

Martyn Court, Head of Mobility, Europe, at Mace Consult, said: “The London Luton Airport growth programme is at a pivotal stage, where bringing the right delivery partner on board can help transform complexity into clarity.

“Our appointment reflects this and, by combining the strengths of Mace and Arcadis, we’ll put in place the systems, controls, processes and governance that will enable Luton Rising to make informed decisions and progress with certainty towards increasing the airport’s capacity to 32 million passengers per year.”

The expansion is expected to generate up to 11,000 jobs and £1.5bn in annual economic activity, according to Luton Rising.

The airport owner intends the programme to support wider economic development in Luton and the surrounding region, including the objectives of the Luton 2040 programme.

Luton Rising operates the airport for community benefit and is wholly owned by Luton Council. The growth programme is intended to increase aviation capacity while supporting employment, investment and local businesses.

Court added: “While value-focused delivery for our client is paramount, at every step of the way our approach will align with the wider programme vision.

“We’ll work to unlock lasting economic, social and environmental value for Luton and the wider region.”

The appointment represents another step in assembling the multidisciplinary team that will oversee the airport's expansion as work progresses through design and implementation.

David Pyle, DCO Implementation Director at Luton Rising, said: “This appointment is a significant step forward in the airport’s growth programme, which will help drive economic and employment growth for future generations.

“We know we have a robust vision, having received consent from the Secretary of State for Transport in 2025, and now is the right time to bring in specialist expertise and experience-based rigour to ensure delivery of the consented growth at the earliest opportunity.

“We look forward to having Mace Consult on board as part of our integrated multi-disciplinary programme team, supporting us and our stakeholders as we move the design and implementation processes forward.”