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Will Heathrow expand or be dug up? Airport warfare enters critical week Will Heathrow expand or be dug up? Airport warfare enters critical week
(about 14 hours later)
The battle over airport expansion in the south of England is entering a critical week, with the future of Heathrow – Britain's largest airport – hanging in the balance.The battle over airport expansion in the south of England is entering a critical week, with the future of Heathrow – Britain's largest airport – hanging in the balance.
Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, is set to outline plans to convert Heathrow into a residential area but he will be opposed by the airport's chiefs, who will unveil new proposals for further runways. Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, will outline plans to convert Heathrow into a residential area, but he will be opposed by the airport's chiefs who will unveil proposals for further runways.
Johnson will on Monday set out three options for a four-runway hub to the east of London, at the expense of Heathrow. Johnson will on Monday set out three options for a four-runway hub to the east of London, at the expense of Heathrow. His proposals are part of a submission to the Airports Commission, a body appointed by the government to draw up options for new runways.
His proposals are part of a submission to the Airports Commission, a body appointed by the government to draw up options for new runways.
Johnson proposes two new sites in the Thames estuary and an expanded Stansted, with a Norman Foster-designed project on the Isle of Grain in Kent thought to be his favoured plan.Johnson proposes two new sites in the Thames estuary and an expanded Stansted, with a Norman Foster-designed project on the Isle of Grain in Kent thought to be his favoured plan.
At the same time, he will call for the closure or scaling down of Heathrow, claiming the land could sustain a thriving new London borough.At the same time, he will call for the closure or scaling down of Heathrow, claiming the land could sustain a thriving new London borough.
Heathrow and local councils have argued that building a new hub would force the airport out of business, causing substantial job losses in the area.Heathrow and local councils have argued that building a new hub would force the airport out of business, causing substantial job losses in the area.
Johnson's camp are set to acknowledge that Heathrow would have no future as an airport under their plans. Johnson's camp will acknowledge that Heathrow would have no future as an airport under their plans.
But he will argue that its transport links make it an ideal location to develop thousands of new homes and businesses in the heart of London's affluent western suburbs.But he will argue that its transport links make it an ideal location to develop thousands of new homes and businesses in the heart of London's affluent western suburbs.
A Heathrow spokesman said: "It seems extraordinary that any mayor of London would propose forcibly buying and then closing Heathrow.A Heathrow spokesman said: "It seems extraordinary that any mayor of London would propose forcibly buying and then closing Heathrow.
"The mayor's proposals would leave 114,000 people facing redundancy, cost taxpayers more and take longer to deliver than building on the strength we already have at Heathrow.""The mayor's proposals would leave 114,000 people facing redundancy, cost taxpayers more and take longer to deliver than building on the strength we already have at Heathrow."
Heathrow is set to respond on Wednesday with a series of specific options for a third runway, none of which replicate the plans scrapped by the coalition in 2010. Heathrow will respond on Wednesday with a series of specific options for a third runway, none of which replicate the plans scrapped by the coalition in 2010.
One proposal is believed to be a new runway towards Stanwell Moor to the southwest of the existing airport, although the most realistic option is still to the north, where land was safeguarded for the third runway that was abandoned in 2010. One proposal is believed to be a new runway towards Stanwell Moor to the south-west of the existing airport, although the most realistic option is still to the north, where land was safeguarded for a third runway.
The village of Sipson, earmarked for wholesale demolition before the 2010 election under the third runway proposals, will apparently not be reprieved. It is understood that the village features in at least one of the options being proposed. The village of Sipson, earmarked for demolition before the 2010 election under the third runway proposals, will apparently not be reprieved. It is understood the village features in at least one of the options being proposed.
Ahead of the Friday 19 July deadline for submissions to the Airports Commission, Heathrow intends to place the onus on the government – or at least commission chair Sir Howard Davies – to pick the preferred option. Heathrow insists that choosing sites for airport expansion is a "political decision".Ahead of the Friday 19 July deadline for submissions to the Airports Commission, Heathrow intends to place the onus on the government – or at least commission chair Sir Howard Davies – to pick the preferred option. Heathrow insists that choosing sites for airport expansion is a "political decision".
The Heathrow third runway plans will include estimates of costs, of the numbers of homes that would require demolition and the noise impact on surrounding neighbourhoods. The Heathrow third runway plans will include estimates of costs, of the number of homes that would be demolished and the noise impact on surrounding neighbourhoods.
Heathrow will also signal that a fourth runway should not be necessary for decades, in an attempt to both head off Johnson's demands for a four-runway hub and to limit any public backlash from London residents threatened by noise from new flight paths. Heathrow will also signal that a fourth runway should not be necessary for decades, in an attempt to head off Johnson's demands for a four-runway hub and to limit any public backlash from London residents threatened by noise from new flight paths.
The airport and the mayor share the view that expansion in the south-east is essential to safeguard the UK's position as a leader in international aviation. The airport and the mayor share the view that expansion in the south-east is essential to safeguard the UK's position as a leader in international aviation. They believe England needs extra capacity at a larger hub airport, with enough connecting flights and passengers to make long-haul routes feasible.
They believe England needs extra capacity now at a larger hub airport, with enough connecting flights and passengers to make long-haul routes feasible. This has the backing of some business leaders, who argue that tapping new export markets in the developing world is more difficult without direct flights to destinations in Russia, India, Brazil and China.
This has the backing of some business leaders, who argue that tapping new export markets in the developing world is more difficult without direct flight links to destinations in Russia, India, Brazil and China.
However, that position is disputed by other airports. Gatwick, for instance, will submit plans for its own second runway to the commission, arguing for a "constellation approach" to airport capacity around London.However, that position is disputed by other airports. Gatwick, for instance, will submit plans for its own second runway to the commission, arguing for a "constellation approach" to airport capacity around London.
In this vision, Heathrow, Gatwick and an expanded Stansted would provide genuine competition to each other on a more equal footing. In this vision, Heathrow, Gatwick and an expanded Stansted would provide competition to each other on a more equal footing.
Birmingham airport believes that Britain's capacity needs can be met through a network of long-haul airports connected by the High Speed 2 rail line. Birmingham airport believes that Britain's capacity needs can be met through a network of long-haul airports connected by the HS2 rail line.
Manchester Airports Group, which bought Stansted earlier this year, has yet to say whether it supports any of Johnson's or Gatwick's expansion plans for the single-runway Essex airport.Manchester Airports Group, which bought Stansted earlier this year, has yet to say whether it supports any of Johnson's or Gatwick's expansion plans for the single-runway Essex airport.
The commission will announce a shortlist of new runway options by the end of the year, with detailed studies to be carried out on those options in 2014. It will set out its final recommendations after the general election in 2015. The commission will announce a shortlist of new runway options by the end of the year, with detailed studies to be carried out in 2014. It will set out its final recommendations after the general election in 2015.