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| Heathrow Airport runway decision delayed until summer | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A decision on whether to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport has been delayed until at least next summer, the government has confirmed. | |
| Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the government would "continue to work on all shortlisted locations". | Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the government would "continue to work on all shortlisted locations". |
| A decision had previously been expected by the end of this year. | A decision had previously been expected by the end of this year. |
| An independent report on airport expansion by Sir Howard Davies in July backed a plan to build a third runway at Heathrow. | |
| But he said that the new runway should come with severe restrictions to reduce the environmental and noise effects, and did not completely rule out a second runway at Gatwick. | |
| This latest development means that expansion at Gatwick is still an option. | |
| Gatwick described the delay as a "defining moment" in the airport expansion debate. | |
| "We are glad that the government recognises that more work on environmental impact needs to be done," said its chief executive Stewart Wingate. | |
| "Air quality, for example, is a public health priority and obviously the legal safeguards around it cannot be wished away," he added. | |
| Airport expansion - what are the options? | |
| Building a third runway at Heathrow | |
| Extending an existing runway at Heathrow | |
| Expanding Gatwick Airport | |
| Read live updates here | |
| Heathrow Airport: Why the renewed delay? | |
| The government's Heathrow problem | |
| "The case for aviation expansion is clear - but it's vitally important we get the decision right so that it will benefit generations to come," said Mr McLoughlin. | |
| "We will undertake more work on environmental impacts, including air quality, noise and carbon." | |
| Business leaders reacted with dismay at the delay. | |
| "Business leaders will be tearing their hair out at the news that, yet again, a decision on expanding the UK's airport capacity has been delayed," said Simon Walker from the Institute of Directors. | |
| "Of course this is difficult choice, which is the reason the government set up the Airports Commission to make a recommendation balancing economic needs, environmental concerns and the impact on local residents," he continued. | |
| "We have to ask now, what was the point of the Commission if the government still fails to act?" | |
| Meanwhile the business lobby group, the CBI said the decision was "deeply disappointing". |