It might be reasoned that any mooted or even ultimately approved expansion plans are again part & parcel of Luton Council`s hedging all the bets looking to add more capital in any eventual beauty parade of the airport for a new franchise bidder.
Just as selling a house it is a more valuable property with planning permission for an extension.
Nothing to say a new franchise owner though would proceed perhaps on the same scale at least.
Appears to quite a lot of wishful thinking from the comments but certainly not straightforward.