POUNDLAND has launched a major 70% off sale ahead of closing a beloved store for good.
Its branch in Barrow in Furness is set to close on June 12, giving customers just two days to say their goodbyes.
To help shift stock before it closes for good, the retailer has launched a 70% sale to shift stock.
One shopper shared the find on social media and managed to pick up a garlic masher for 12p and a wine and beer glasses for 25p a pop.
They also picked up a USB charger for 37p.
Another shopper said they had also visited the closings store and “picked up loads” in the sale.
It comes just eight months after the affordable store shut another branch in the area.
Its site at Hindpool Retail Park closed last autumn, in another blow to shoppers.
The news has came as a blow to locals, with one even describing it as their “second home”.
A Poundland spokesperson previously told The Sun that the store is closing because it has been unable to agree terms that would allow the brand to keep trading there.
The store still has 800 stores trading across the UK.
It comes as Poundland could undergo a radical restructuring plan to help keep the business afloat.
Up to 200 stores could close and hundreds of stores have been identified for steep rent cuts, according to reports.
The retailer was put up for sale in March, with ex-Laura Ashley owner Gordon Brothers and Hilco named as frontrunners in the race.
Last month, sources told The Sunday Times the budget business could be priced at “effectively a pound”.
It’s owner Pepco said it expects the sale of Poundland by September.
The brand has already closed a number of stores in the past year.
That includes stores across Gravesend’s St George’s Centre, Clapham Junction station in London.
Liverpool’s Belle Vale Shopping Centre also pulled down their shutters for the final time.
This is the full list of stores that have closed, or are set to close in the coming months:
Poundland is not the only retailer facing troubling times.
Hobbycraft is set to close nine stores on June 21, as part of an overhaul by new owner Modella Capital.
Sites across Bristol, Dunstable, Borehamwood and Basildon are all set to close.
A further two sites in Essex and one in Gloucestershire are also set to close, with a site in Kent closing earlier this year.
Elsewhere, up to 11 Original Factory Shops stores are to set to close this month, including sites across Worcestershire, Durham and Cumbria.
Meanwhile, another five stores across Nairn, Market Drayton, Troon, Blairgowrie and Castle Douglas have been put up for sale.
It comes as part of a major restructuring carried out by new owner Modella Capital with a number of loss-making stores having to close as result.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
UBER is set to trial driverless robotaxis in London next spring, where passengers could be driven by artificial intelligence (AI) in place of a human.
The ride-hailing app has partnered with UK AI firm Wayve, which has been testing autonomous vehicles in the capital with human oversight.
The pilot will be the first of its kind for the company, Uber said in a statement.
It is not yet clear whether the vehicles in Uber’s trial will be available for customers to use.
The company said it is still working out the details.
If all goes well, passengers may soon be able to take Uber rides without a safety driver present.
Uber has previously said it intends to introduce fleets of driverless cars to its UK app as soon as legislation allows.
Such journeys have become commonplace in the US, namely San Francisco, home to Google’s driverless taxi firm Waymo.
Andrew MacDonald, president and chief operating officer of Uber, said the partnership with Wayve would help “to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere.”
“This is a defining moment for UK autonomy,” Wayve CEO and co-founder Alex Kendall said in a statement.
“With Uber and a global OEM partner, we’re preparing to put our AI Driver technology into real service on the streets of London.”
The trial has been made possible following a change in UK regulation that aims to get driverless cars on the road sooner.
The UK government was originally aiming for the tech to come to British roads in 2026, then the date was changed to the second half of 2027.
However, the government’s new stance is that it wants them on the roads sooner, and so it’s introducing an accelerated framework for small autonomous “bus and taxi like” commercial services.
The legislation will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as “competent and careful human drivers”, the Department for Transport (DfT) said.
Driverless vehicles are hoped to reduce road deaths and injuries, as their systems will be more fault-proof than humans.
The development of automated vehicle technology could create 38,000 jobs in the UK and add £42billion to the economy by 2035, according to the DfT.
It’s unclear how many customers will opt for a driverless vehicle over a car with a human behind the wheel.
The experience still appears fairly daunting – even for The Sun’s Assistant Technology and Science Editor, Jamie Harris, who travelled in one of Waymo’s robotaxis last year.
It comes as Uber plans to take on the skies over Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
The company has announced that high-flying customers will be able to book helicopters in minutes.
From 26 July to 23 August, travellers on Italy’s Amalfi Coast can reserve a private Uber Copter to ferry them between Sorrento and Capri.
Using the Uber app, passengers can book helicopter travel for €250 (around £184) per head to beat summer crowds.
A HEATWAVE could hit parts of the UK this week as temperatures soar to highs of 29C, the Met Office has said.
However, these hot conditions are expected to also trigger thunderstorms and potentially “intense” downpours as early as tomorrow.
The forecaster explained that a “plume of warm air” moving in from the south will “drive a change to the weather later this week”.
Despite triggering thunderstorms in some regions, the warm air is set to push temperatures as high as 29C by Friday.
These hot conditions could mean that heatwave thresholds are crossed in parts of the Midlands, northern Wales, and northern England.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mike Silverstone explained: “As temperatures rise this week, it is possible heatwave thresholds could be reached in some parts of the UK, particularly the northwest Midlands, northwest England and northeast Wales, however it is very dependent on cloud cover later this week, so it is not a certainty.”
However, wet conditions are expected to bring potentially “intense” downpours before the warmest weather hits.
While tomorrow is expected to be a “largely fine and dry day” for much of the UK, the Met Office has warned that thundery showers are likely to move in throughout the evening and overnight.
This could lead to some western areas experiencing between 20-40mm of rain over just a few hours as “intense” downpours move through to the northeast.
These showers could also lead to “frequent” lightning for some, the forecaster warned.
Mike said: “After largely benign weather early in the week, some intense, thundery showers will move in on Wednesday evening.
“These thunderstorms are being triggered by some warm, humid air that is moving into the UK from the south.
“The intense rainfall could see 20-40mm accumulating over just a few hours, which could cause some disruption.
“While there are no severe weather warnings issued at the moment, it is possible thunderstorm warnings may be issued this week.”
But, following this stormy weather, temperatures are expected to continue to climb.
Highs of 27C are forecast for tomorrow and Thursday, while Friday could see temperatures crawl up to a toasty 29C – potentially leading to heatwave conditions in some areas.
Today: Low cloud and patchy light rain across the south this morning, will become restricted to the far south during the afternoon.
Otherwise increasing amounts of sunshine developing throughout today with morning showers tending to die out. Feeling warmer for many.
Tonight: Dry for most tonight with variable cloud and clear spells.
The clearest skies in the north, where it will turn chilly. Mild in the south though with some patchy fog.
Wednesday: Morning low cloud across the south will burn away to leave a largely dry and sunny day for many, with a few showers in the west. Widely very warm.
Outlook for Thursday to Saturday: Very warm and humid on Thursday and Friday with the risk of some heavy and thundery downpours developing.
Further heavy rain possible on Saturday, but feeling fresher from the south.
The highest temperatures are expected in southeast and central England, the Met Office said.
However, the areas most likely to break heatwave thresholds are northwest Midlands, northwest England and northeast Wales.
The hot conditions could be the perfect invitation for Brits to go and enjoy the sunshine on beaches and in parks, following the thunderstorms.
Heading towards the end of the week, the Met Office said the humid and thundery airmass would be displaced by “fresher” and more settled conditions.
While the south is forecast to have temperatures a little above average by the end of the weekend, northern areas are “likely to be more changeable”.
The forecaster said that some areas, especially the northwest, could see spells of stronger winds, cloud, and some rain at times.
A CONTESTANT on The 1% Club was left shocked by a strict rule that means you can be kicked off the show instantly.
Presented by Lee Mack, The 1% Club tests players’ logic and common sense, rather than general knowledge.
Heidi Phillips competed in an episode that was aired in January 2025.
During the game, she ultimately chose to use her pass on the 35% question before being eliminated.
While speaking to FruitySlots.com, Heidi revealed strict rules given to contestants by the producers.
She shared: “When we got put in our seats in the studio, they gave us the tablets and told us it was important to keep our eyes firmly locked on the screens and not look at each other
“There were actually invigilators who go back through the show episode to make sure every contestant plays the game fairly.
“You could have won the cash prize but if they go back through filming and see you glanced over at another contestant’s screen before answering, you’ll forfeit the prize.
“That’s not happened yet but it was a stern warning!”
She also explained: “Before the show, we were given rules about clothing.
“No logos or bright patterns. No fluorescent colours and nothing low cut. They didn’t want you to look dressed for a night out!”
Elsewhere, Heidi shared a top tip for hopeful contestants aiming to stand out to the producers.
She revealed: “It was funny. I tried to showcase my personality and I’ve worked as an entertainer before, so I’m good in front of people.
“I made silly jokes that if I won the prize, I’d spend it on opening a trifle sandwich shop.
“That would be my advice to anyone trying to get on the show. When they ask you how you’ll spend the winnings, don’t say something boring like paying off the mortgage.”
Meanwhile, she further opened up how filming on the hit ITV game show actually works.
She said: “While contestants are answering questions on the tablet, Lee usually takes the time to make a joke to the audience at home.
“But all his comical parts are filmed later. When we’re answering the question, he remains silent.
“Then he has to be filmed asking the question again and we have to pretend to put our answers in. That was a bit weird!”
The 1% Club sees 100 contestants try and make it to the 1% question and be in with a chance to win a share of the jackpot. Here are just some of the show's most difficult teasers.
The show’s challenging brainteasers and puzzles regularly stump large numbers of players.
In one episode, 30 contestants were eliminated after failing to answer a smiley face question correctly.
While another saw 30 players left stumped on a tricky traffic question.
The 1% Club airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
NEW plans have been revealed for a seaside development project – months after the council blocked proposals.
The seaside town was named Time Out’s top place to visit in the UK in 2025, as stats suggest it is one of the world’s most ‘up and coming’ beach destinations.
Folkestone harbour and seafront could undergo a significant transformation if development plans are approved.
While Sir Roger De Haan’s Folkestone Harbour and Seafront Development Company has already made significant changes to the area – they are still awaiting approval for the eastern section of the seafront.
The company previously submitted development plans in January which were narrowly refused.
Councillors voted 5-4 to reject the application, expressing concerns about the design, heritage impacts and housing affordability.
Public response was less favourable, with 96% of comments on the council’s planning portal objecting to the proposals.
After making revisions to the plans that address the councillors’ concerns, FHSDC is hoping the new proposal will be approved at a planning committee meeting on June 17.
One of the most drastic changes between the proposals is a 50 per cent increase in public parking provisions.
The increase correlates to 323 proposed public spaces, up from 215 in the original proposal – as well as a car club that should reduce pressure on residential parking.
They have also made alterations for the proposed plan to build 410 homes and 54 commercial units.
This will include 53 affordable homes, intended for shared ownership in order to meet affordability needs – as the original proposal faced backlash for failing to address local social issues.
The new proposal includes more three-bedroom homes, as well as moving one of the proposed buildings away from the harbour station to “better respect” its historic setting.
84 beachfront properties have already been built, with prices ranging from £430,000 to £2.1 million.
FHSDC released a statement clarifying the restrictions they faced under the council’s Local Plan.
The statement from FHSDC reads: “The original permission dictated, for example, the maximum and minimum height of the buildings, and a maximum and minimum number of homes we can build, and these cannot be changed through a Reserved Matters Application.
“Any revised plans must remain within these, and other, parameters.”
Local residents had previously expressed concern about the project’s design, as well as the lack of affordable housing.
One particularly outspoken resident, Georgina Baker, campaigned against the development as she believed it was “not the right development for the harbour” and that the “community deserves more.”
However, FHSDC consultants believe the development would do more good for the area, with an emphasis on social benefit.
The proposal includes a new Section 106 agreement to contribute £5.19 million to local services including children’s play areas, GPs, schools, social care, libraries and youth services.
This is in addition to the amount promised in the original proposal, bringing the total contribution to £8.72 million.
It is estimated that the development could generate 760 long-term jobs, boost the local economy by £21 million each year, and generate £148 million during construction.
With the luxury accommodation expected to attract wealthy residents, it is estimated to bring £9.4 million in annual spending, with almost £1 million in further tax revenue.
FHSDC told Kent Online that they hoped to correct the misinformation about the historic buildings on the development site.
A spokesperson said: “Ten years ago, the original outline planning permission provided for the demolition of the station, Customs House and Signal Box.
“At the time, these buildings were dangerous and inaccessible to the public.
“Sir Roger De Haan decided to restore and retain the station rather than demolish it and to prioritise its place in the development.”
In addition to the residential properties, the development would create 7,489 square metres of commercial space used for leisure facilities, restaurants, bars and retail outlets.
The upcoming planning meeting will decide the fate of the remaining section of the project.
It comes as other areas of Folkestone are undergoing their own redevelopment.
A £20 million revamp is set to turn the bus station into a central park – complete with a plaza area, fountains and surrounding gardens.
The town’s Lower Leas funicular is also undergoing a £6.6 million restoration – with the hopes it will be reopened by early 2026 after it closed nearly 10 years ago.
STARING at yet another pregnancy test, Erica Coronado was thrilled but terrified.
The 36-year-old had given up hope of a baby after two years of trying and the agony of a stillbirth.
So seeing two lines appear on the tests “felt like a dream” for her and husband Joseph Leyton, 26.
Yet they were then gripped by fear — as a month earlier Erica had started taking “fat jab” Ozempic.
Erica, now 37, tells The Sun: “I was worried my baby might have a defect, or worse.”
Desperate for reassurance, Erica turned to TikTok and a Facebook group of other mums who had given birth to “Ozempic babies”.
One new mum posted: “I lost so much sleep thinking something will go wrong.”
Others feared the jabs could be the next thalidomide — a drug given for morning sickness in the late Fifties and early Sixties, that caused severe birth defects.
Erica already had children Alexa, 14, and Jordon, 19, from a previous relationship but she and husband Joseph were desperate for a baby of their own.
But in 2019, aged 30, she had been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common hormone disorder making it harder to conceive.
She did get pregnant in 2020 but developed pre-eclampsia and was forced to give birth to her stillborn baby.
“It left such a huge hole in my heart that I thought would never be filled,” she says.
“I really started to believe it might never happen again.”
Fearing she may never conceive, Erica focused on something she felt she could control — her weight.
Shortly before her PCOS diagnosis, a symptom of which is weight gain, she had piled on the pounds and reached 16st 4lb.
So, in 2023, fed up with diet fails, she started on Ozempic, which mimics the gut hormone GLP-1 that is released after eating and works to slow food’s movement through the gut so you feel full for longer.
Ozempic is approved in the UK only for type 2 diabetes but in the US off-label for weight loss. In the UK, its equivalent Wegovy is licensed for weight loss, as is Mounjaro.
In just two months, Erica lost 15lb but also noticed she had missed two periods — and a pregnancy test proved positive.
Despite her fears, Erica counts herself lucky as she welcomed her perfectly healthy baby girl, Mariana Jo last year — and hails her “my little miracle”.
“It’s so wonderful to have a baby in the house again,” she gushes.
“Mariana Jo laughs at everything and has developed a fondness for animals. While she will never replace the baby we lost, she brings so much joy to all of us.”
But Erica was right to worry — we do not know the effects the “miracle” weight-loss injections might have on unborn babies.
More research is needed into how GLP-1 injections like semaglutide — the drug in Wegovy and Ozempic — and tirzepatide, in Mounjaro, affect pregnancy.
And health chiefs warned last week the drugs must NOT be taken during pregnancy, so women using them should also use contraception.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency says: “Taking the medicine could cause harm to the baby.”
Data from animal studies suggests potential for harm, with low birth weight and skeletal abnormalities
Professor Rebecca Reynolds
Professor Rebecca Reynolds at the University of Edinburgh adds: “There is hardly any data from human studies to advise if these drugs are safe in pregnancy.
“Data from animal studies suggests potential for harm, with low birth weight and skeletal abnormalities.”
Dr Bassel Wattar, a consultant gynaecologist at Anglia Ruskin University says it is rare for pregnant women to join trials like this, as it can be “riskier and more expensive”.
THE UK’s medicines regulator has warned women using weight-loss jabs they must use effective contraception.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has received more than 40 reports of pregnancy among women on weight-loss jabs.
Of those, 26 were related to Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and eight to Wegovy/Ozempic (semaglutide).
It recommends women taking tirzepatide, in particular, use a non-oral contraceptive because the drug may reduce its effectiveness. The MHRA said: “This can be a barrier form of contraception (e.g. condom) alongside your pill, or switching to a non-oral contraceptive like the coil or implant.”
The MHRA added GLP-1 medicines should not be taken during pregnancy or just before trying to get pregnant.
It says to stop taking semaglutide for at least two months before trying to become pregnant, and tirzapatide for at least one month.
But studies of rats found semaglutide caused early pregnancy loss and birth defects. Similar was seen in rabbits and monkeys.
However, The Sun’s resident GP, Dr Zoe Williams, says: “It’s not really plausible that these drugs could be the ‘next thalidomide’, due to the pharmacology.
“The GLP-1 [weight-loss] drugs are peptides that work by mimicking natural, existing, small proteins in our bodies. In contrast, thalidomide is a drug that can affect blood vessel growth.
“The reason for this new advice is that we don’t have enough safety data to know if the medicines could cause harm to the baby.
“But it is not likely they would cause such significant birth defects as seen with thalidomide.
“The fact that so far no evidence of danger to the baby has been seen, despite many women getting pregnant on them, is tentatively reassuring.”
In fact, the medicines seem to make women MORE fertile and, in the right hands, could prove the most effective treatment for infertility we have seen in decades, experts have told The Sun.
Dr Nerys Astbury, Associate Professor of Diet and Obesity at the University of Oxford, tells us: “It could be that these medicines improve conception chances, we don’t know yet.”
Dr Wattar says: “It’s not the medication itself but the weight-loss that helps regulate a woman’s hormones, allowing her ovaries to function properly again. Pregnancy is more of a happy side effect.”
He now prescribes fat jabs to women with PCOS, adding: “We have found in our clinic these injections are the superior method to help women reach a healthy weight quickly, improving their chances of pregnancy.”
But in line with MHRA guidance, he takes his patients OFF the drugs up to two months before couples try to get pregnant.
Dr Astbury agrees with Dr Wattar and says: “The weight loss triggered by obesity medicines is likely to be driving these pregnancies, rather than the drugs.
“Losing even a small amount of weight can be enough to reverse infertility.”
There should be clearer warnings so women don’t accidentally fall pregnant
Erica
Meanwhile Erica, from California, credits her jabs with helping her conceive, and is calling for greater awareness of their fertility-boosting effects.
She was prescribed Ozempic by her doctor, but never told it could affect her chance of having a baby.
“There should be clearer warnings so women don’t accidentally fall pregnant,” she warns.
The drugs’ makers, Eli Lilly (Mounjaro) and Novo Nordisk (Wegovy and Ozempic) advise women who are pregnant, or trying, to not use the medication — and Dr Astbury says: “Medics prescribing these medications should be advising women to use effective forms of contraception.”
MHRA also warns Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in people with obesity, and recommends non-oral forms of contraception such as the implant, coil or condoms. It also says that weight-loss jabs must not be used by mums who are breastfeeding.
It also says weight-loss jabs must not be used by mums who are breastfeeding.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer, says: “Skinny jabs are licensed to treat specific medical conditions and should not be used as aesthetic or cosmetic treatments.”
A Novo Nordisk spokesman told us: “There is limited data with semaglutide use in pregnant women to inform risk for adverse outcomes.
Semaglutide should be discontinued in women at least two months before a planned pregnancy, and not used in pregnancy.”
A spokesman for Mounjaro maker Eli Lily said: “This should not be used in pregnancy, and it is recommended to use contraception while using this.”
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients’ sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients’ mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
FRENCH league star Daniel Congre has been rushed to hospital – after being found at home with a stab wound.
The central defender has made over 550 appearances for Toulouse, Montpellier and Dijon.
Congre, 40, became Lyon‘s sporting coordinator after hanging up his boots last year.
But emergency services raced to his home at Perols, near Montpellier, on Monday after concerns were raised for his welfare.
Toulouse-born Congre was reportedly found unconscious with a severe stab wound close to his heart.
Montpellier police have opened an enquiry into the incident, which took place near the city’s airport.
Congre joined Montpellier straight after their surprise Ligue 1 title win in 2012, and went on to captain the side.
Aston Villa considered signing him in January 2016, while he had attracted interest from Crystal Palace and West Brom the previous spring.
Able to operate in central defence or on either flank, he won seven Under-21 caps for France.
Congre, whose parents hail from the French Caribbean, later received a senior call-up from Guadeloupe.
Despite this, he failed to make their squad for the 2009 Concacaf Gold Cup.
A source close to the now-retired player said on Tuesday morning that his condition had become more stable.
But enquiries continue into whether Congre’s injuries were self-inflicted or a third party was involved.
ONE of the UK’s busiest airports has revealed plans for millions more passengers a year.
London Stansted Airport is currently undergoing a major £1.1billion expansion.
And the airport is now seeking approval for an expansion that would allow up to 51million passengers a year by 2040.
The airport capacity currently allows around 47million passengers.
If given the go-ahead, it would make the airport the third busiest in the UK, behind London Heathrow and London Gatwick.
The expansion plans so not include an additional runway, unlike Heathrow and Gatwick, due to the lack of surrounding space.
And the current limit of 274,000 flights a year won’t be increased either.
However, improvements made to the train services as well as road access would be improved.
The airport’s Managing Director Gareth Powell said: “We have an exciting and ambitious vision for London Stansted and how we best serve our region.
“We have already kicked off our five-year £1.2 billion investment programme to transform the airport, and if this application is approved, we will be able to unlock even more local opportunities and improvements over the next 20 years.”
Last year, Stansted handled nearly 30million passengers – a record for the airport.
The airport offers flights to more than 200 destinations including long-haul flights to Dubai and Barbados.
New routes this year including Ryanair’s flights to Reggio Calabria as well as TUI‘s Enfidha this summer.
And Royal Air Maroc’s new flights to Casablanca start this month.
London Stansted’s £1.1billion expansion includes an extended main terminal, as well as a bigger security hall and gate rooms.
Works have already started and hope to be complete within three years.
All of London’s airports have revealed huge expansion plans in the next decade.
London Heathrow is campaigning for a third runway, which would increase the current 80million passenger capacity to 140million a year.
London Gatwick wants to convert its second runway to welcome larger passenger aircraft, increasing capacity from 55million to 75million.
Here are the 15 busiest airports in the UK by passenger numbers in 2023
And London Luton has plans to increase capacity from 19million passengers to 32milllion passengers.
Here’s everything you need to know about Manchester Airport’s massive expansion as well.
