The scheme proposed by Heathrow Airport is for a new full length runway (3,500m) to the north west of the current northern runway at Heathrow.
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Mr Cameron is faced with furious opposition from his own Tory benches with London mayor Boris Johnson, who had wanted a new airport built on the Thames estuary east of London, saying the expansion will “never happen”.
Stop Heathrow Expansion, a campaign group that has worked tirelessly to protect the Heathrow villages – Harmondsworth, Harlington and Sipson – say a third runway would destroy at least 783 homes.
The UK Airports Commission today recommended that London Heathrow gets a third runway to help solve the nation’s capacity crunch.
Sir Howard Davies, the commission chair, said: “Over the past two-and-a-half years, the Airports Commission has reviewed the evidence without preconceptions, consulted widely, and followed an inclusive and integrated process”.
The decision by the commission does not leave the new runway as the only option. And key members of the Cabinet remain opposed to Heathrow expansion.
The prime-minister’s office says it has received the Airports Commission report, but wants to study it thoroughly before making any rash decisions.
While the government has no obligation to accept the report’s findings, FSB national chairman John Allan claimed any further hesitation would “put the long-term economic health of the United Kingdom at risk”. “Heathrow is best-placed to provide the type of capacity that is most urgently required”. It is only five years since the most recent previous decision to expand at Heathrow was rescinded, ‘No ifs, no buts, ‘ by David Cameron, and the issue remains politically incandescent especially within the Tory government.
Greenpeace United Kingdom executive director John Sauven said, “Davies’ preferred option of a third runway at Heathrow is an environmental and political minefield”. But it stressed that Europe’s largest airport needs to address air quality, noise and community concerns.
“It is for the commission to make a recommendation but it is of course for the government to decide”.
“However, for the full benefit to be felt across our region we now need firm commitment from Heathrow to guaranteed “slots” (a minimum of four per day) for connections to Leeds Bradford global Airport as part of the expansion”.
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Furthermore the package of measures with which the Commission recommends Heathrow should be forced to comply; including operating within a noise envelope and a ban on flights before 6am, makes this a different proposal to that which was previously put forward.
