The planned £2.4bn airport expansion would raise capacity from 18m to 32m passengers per year and be a much-needed economic boost to the region.

Luton Rising, the Luton Council company that owns the airport, is seeking development consent to build a new terminal, a major programme of earthworks to create an extension to the current airfield platform and new airside and landside facilities.

The airport owners also aim to enhance the surface access network and extend the Luton DART.

Announcing the latest delay, transport secretary Louise Haigh, said: “The reason for the extension is to enable the applicant further time to provide requested information, and for that information to be considered, including by interested parties, before the final determination of the application.”

The proposals have been shaped by an extensive consultation programme stretching across more than four years.

Luton Airport’s Development Consent Order application comprises 198 documents, containing just over 25,000 detailed pages of proposals and plans.