Stansted Airport has accepted Uttlesford's offer of over £2million to cover its legal fees in the wake of a dispute over its expansion.

The airport won an appeal against Uttlesford District Council last year over its bid to increase passenger numbers to 43 million a year. According to a spokesperson, the airport has accepted an “all in” offer of £2.1m.

The council was ordered to cover the airport’s legal costs after the appeal and voted to offer £1.4m in June 2022. This was rejected by the airport earlier this month.

At a meeting on October 13, it voted to make two new offers of £2.05m, including £50,000 interest, and a second “all in” offer of £2.1m.

A spokesperson for Stansted Airport said in a statement: “We can confirm we have accepted UDC’s offer in relation to our planning appeal costs, which it was ordered to pay by the Planning Inspectorate.”

At a meeting earlier this month, councillors from Residents for Uttlesford, the party which controls the authority, said the airport had asked for a far larger figure but that this had been negotiated down.

According to a council report published ahead of the meeting, £1m has already been paid on account to the airport in June. This is included in the £2.1m figure.

The bill is expected to wipe the council’s Strategic Initiative Fund, which had a balance of £1.65m before the £1m was paid on account. According to the report, the Medium Term Financial Strategy Reserve will be used for the excess of £437,000.

An Uttlesford District Council spokesperson said: “Uttlesford District Council made an offer of £2.1 million to Stansted Airport Limited in full settlement of the costs incurred by the airport in pursuing their planning appeal.

"We can confirm this offer has been accepted by the airport. The balance of this money – £1.1 million – has been paid, on top of the £1 million previously paid on account whilst negotiations continued.

"An independent expert report into this broader matter has been commissioned, received and debated at full council, with lessons learned already being actioned for the future.

"With the outstanding costs now having been settled, the council reasonably considers this matter to be closed.”