Mace Consult has been appointed by Luton Rising to provide programme, project, cost and commercial management services for the expansion of London Luton Airport, supporting plans to increase capacity to as many as 32 million passengers a year.
Working in partnership with Arcadis, Mace Consult will establish the programme schedules, systems, controls and decision-making frameworks required to support delivery of the airport’s growth programme.
The appointment follows the programme receiving its final go-ahead in August 2026 and represents a further step towards implementation of the consented expansion.
The Mace-led team will develop an integrated delivery plan intended to combine incremental increases in airport capacity with continued airport operations.
Its responsibilities will include programme integration and planning, design management, commercial assurance, risk management, stakeholder engagement, consents advice and information management.
Programme controls to support expansion
Luton Rising, the Luton Council-owned company that owns London Luton Airport, secured consent from the Secretary of State for Transport for the expansion in 2025.
Mace Consult and Arcadis will now support the organisation as it moves through design and implementation, including managing interfaces between different elements of the programme and establishing governance and controls.
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.”
He said the combined Mace and Arcadis team would establish “the systems, controls, processes and governance” needed to support decision-making and progress towards the 32 million passenger annual capacity target.
“While value-focused delivery for our client is paramount, at every step of the way our approach will align with the wider programme vision,” Court added.
“We’ll work to unlock lasting economic, social and environmental value for Luton and the wider region.”
Expansion expected to support 11,000 jobs
The airport growth programme is expected to create up to 11,000 jobs and generate £1.5 billion in annual economic activity.
Luton Rising said the development is intended to support local business growth and investment while contributing to the Luton 2040 vision, which includes objectives around tackling poverty and inequality and expanding economic opportunities.
David Pyle, DCO Implementation Director at Luton Rising, said the PMCM appointment marked an important stage in moving the programme towards delivery.
“This appointment is a significant step forward in the airport’s growth programme, which will help drive economic and employment growth for future generations,” he said.
“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.”
Pyle said Mace Consult would become part of Luton Rising’s integrated multidisciplinary programme team as design and implementation activities progress.
The appointment adds another major UK infrastructure programme to Mace Consult’s aviation portfolio and places programme management, project controls, commercial management and risk management at the centre of the next phase of London Luton Airport’s expansion.
