Dispite the potential benefits to the UK's economy, the £220m expansion of London City Airport has been rejected by London Mayor Boris Johnson due to concerns over noise pollution.


The green light for the site at the Royal Docks in East London had been granted by Newham Council last month, which would see the size of the existing terminal triple, the construction of a new taxi-way as well as a new seven extra parking stands for large aircrafts as well as the construction of a new six-storey, four star hotel.


It’s estimated that the development would have created at least 500 jobs in the construction industry and would have see the airport able to handle 111,000 flights per year, compared to the 70,000 currently flying out of the airport.


According to the council, the application for the development of the airport had included measures to limit the noise pollution from the airport, these included noise barriers, soundproofing for residents and imposing flight restrictions.


Having reviewed the planning application which required the mayor’s approval, a spokesman for the mayor said he believed the scheme would have lead to an “unacceptable increase in noise for East Londoners” without benefitting the city.


London City Airport had argued that their scheme would deliver around £750m to the UK’s economy and were disappointed by the news which would have seen a commitment to construction jobs and the consumption of construction supplies for some time.


Declan Collier, Chief Executive Officer of London City Airport, said: “It is ironic that the Mayor of London, whose platform has always been one of advantage for business in London, is denying the capital the business opportunity presented by growth at London City Airport.


“It is doubly ironic that this decision was taken on LCY’s busiest-ever day , when more than 16,500 passengers passed through the terminal.”