The government has given London Heathrow Airport the go-ahead to proceed with the development of a third runway and a sixth terminal.
Despite opposition from environmental campaigners and MPs across the political landscape, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced that a third runway should be built by 2012, which will increase the number of flights departing the UK’s busiest airport by 400 a day.
However, Mr Hoon did attach three conditions to the decision that Heathrow’s operator must uphold. These were that all aircraft using the runway must meet greenhouse gas standards, that carbon emissions from UK aviation fall below 2005 levels by 2050, and that the runway will operate at half capacity when it opens in 2020.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown commented on the issue before the Commons announcement. He said: “We want to protect the economic future of the country while, at the same time, meeting the very tough environmental conditions we have set ourselves.”
The decision could give the UK’s aviation industry a much needed boost and was welcomed by industry figures. Chris Cuddy, chief executive of Cheapflights.co.uk, lauded the government’s decision. “Blocking expansion would not have helped reduce climate change. It would have merely diverted the increased international air traffic to European airports, many of which are increasing runway capacity,” he said.
This sentiment was also expressed by Colin Matthews, chief executive of Heathrow Airport’s operator BAA, who claimed that the decision would “open the door” to the airport becoming “truly world-class”. Opponents of the expansion reacted with dismay at the announcement.
Green Party leader Dr Caroline Lucas MEP called the decision “irresponsible, deceptive and environmentally disastrous”. She said: “A third runway will have disastrous consequences for residents in my south east constituency – leading to serious environmental damage and social upheaval through increased pollution.”
It is believed that around 700 homes in the village of Sipson will have to be demolished to accommodate the runway, which will eventually increase the number of services departing Heathrow from 480,000 annually to 708,000.
Yet, the decision could still be made redundant if the Conservative Party prevails at the next general election, with prominent Tory members pledging to block the runway and replace it with a high-speed rail line.
London Mayor Boris Johnson, who supports a new airport in the Thames Estuary, summed up the mood of many of his constituents. He said: “I’m totally against it. I think it’s totally the wrong project for London. We’re going to fight it might and main.”
