THE latest phase in the development of Stansted Airport has been marked with the topping out of the £40m terminal extension.

The project, which will add an additional 5,900sq.m of floor space in the international arrivals area, is due to open by the end of June following the completion of the main structure, roof diagrid and façade glazing stages.

The project will be fully complete by December.

BAA Stansted managing director Stewart Wingate said: "I'm delighted we've reached another major milestone in the growth of Stansted. Our exciting plans will transform the terminal building and improve even further the levels of customer service we provide to the tens of thousands of passengers who pass through Stansted every day.

"Putting the passenger first is at the heart of everything we do, and this £40m investment demonstrates the strength of this commitment.

"We have also invested in the latest technology to improve the environmental performance of the terminal and limit the impact of our operations. Our initiative to use biomass boilers burning renewable forms of fuel to generate hot water for direct use and heating purposes will reduce the terminal's carbon emissions by 1,824,000 kg per year, effectively making the extension project carbon neutral."