Stansted Airport has announced it will appeal immediately against Uttlesford Council's decision to turn down its Generation One application.

Terry Morgan, Stansted's managing director, said BAA was "very confident" of the case the airport had made for increasing annual passenger numbers and that this would be recognised at a public inquiry.

Mr Morgan added: "Effectively, the council is wanting to cap passenger numbers at the current level, which contradicts Government policy and flies in the face of the interests of the record number of leisure and business travellers - tens of thousands of whom are local - who see Stansted as an affordable gateway to destinations and opportunities around the world."