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Heathrow and Gatwick airports shortlisted for new runways Heathrow and Gatwick airports shortlisted for new runways
(35 minutes later)
A new battle looms over a Heathrow third runway after the Airports Commission said additional capacity was needed in the south-east of England, with extra runways at London's biggest airport foremost among the options it will study before issuing its final recommendation, along with an extra runway at Gatwick. A new battle looms over a Heathrow third runway after the Airports Commission said that additional capacity was needed in the south-east of England, with extra runways at London's two biggest airports among the options that it will study before issuing its final recommendation.
The government-appointed independent commission, led by Sir Howard Davies has issued a shortlist of three options for building new runways in the south-east in its interim report. The government-appointed independent commission led by Sir Howard Davies has issued a shortlist of three options for building new runways in the south-east in its interim report.
The options set out by Davies are: a third runway to the north of Heathrow, a second proposal for Heathrow expansion put forward by the Heathrow Hub group, and a new second runway to the south of Gatwick. The three options set out by Davies are: a third runway to the north of Heathrow, a second proposal for Heathrow expansion put forward by the Heathrow Hub group, and a new second runway to the south of Gatwick.
The Thames Estuary airport proposal, backed primarily by the London mayor, Boris Johnson, has not been included for now, although the commission said it would undertake further study of the Isle of Grain option in the first half of 2014 to reach a view later next year whether that option could be shortlisted. The commission said it had concluded there was a need for one net additional runway in the south-east by 2030, and likely demand for a second by 2050.
The other most high-profile omission from the shortlist is Stansted airport, whose owners, MAG, had supported proposals for expansion, but whose potential for major expansion into a four-runway hub had been primarily promoted by Johnson as an alternative to his Estuary plan. The Thames estuary airport proposal, backed primarily by the London mayor, Boris Johnson, has not been included for now, although the commission said it would undertake further study of the Isle of Grain option in the first half of 2014 to reach a view later next year whether that option could be shortlisted after all.
The other most high-profile omission from the shortlist is Stansted airport, whose owners, MAG, had supported proposals for expansion, but whose potential for major expansion into a four-runway hub had been primarily promoted by Johnson as an alternative to his estuary plan.
The commission will request and examine detailed proposals for all of the options, and will give its final recommendation after the next general election.The commission will request and examine detailed proposals for all of the options, and will give its final recommendation after the next general election.
Launching the report, Davies said: "Decisions on airport capacity are important national strategic choices and must be based upon the best evidence available. The commission has undertaken a fresh, comprehensive and transparent study of the issues. This report is the product of extensive consultation, independent analysis and careful consideration by the commissioners.Launching the report, Davies said: "Decisions on airport capacity are important national strategic choices and must be based upon the best evidence available. The commission has undertaken a fresh, comprehensive and transparent study of the issues. This report is the product of extensive consultation, independent analysis and careful consideration by the commissioners.
"The UK enjoys excellent connectivity today. The capacity challenge is not yet critical but it will become so if no action is taken soon and our analysis clearly supports the provision of one net additional runway by 2030. In the meantime we encourage the government to act on our recommendations to make the best of our existing capacity."The UK enjoys excellent connectivity today. The capacity challenge is not yet critical but it will become so if no action is taken soon and our analysis clearly supports the provision of one net additional runway by 2030. In the meantime we encourage the government to act on our recommendations to make the best of our existing capacity.
"The commission will now focus on the challenge of appraising the three options, further assessing the case for a new airport in the Thames Estuary, and delivering a robust final recommendation to government in summer 2015." "The commission will now focus on the challenge of appraising the three options, further assessing the case for a new airport in the Thames estuary, and delivering a robust final recommendation to government in summer 2015."
Although the coalition scrapped plans for a Heathrow third runway in 2010, pressure from business groups and the aviation industry convinced Downing Street to re-examine the issue, and the commission was formed in November 2012. Davies told the Today programme that he not included the Thames estuary proposals on the shortlist because they were not equivalent to runway plans at existing airports. He said: "What we've said is that sometime next year this is an option. The shortlist we've got is exactly the shortlist we had before we talked to anyone."
While both Heathrow airport and Johnson have argued that only expansion of a bigger "hub" airport – ie one big enough to generate connecting flights and passengers – was necessary, Davies said he did not accept that there was a simple "hub or no hub" debate, hence his shortlisting of possible Gatwick expansion.
He said: "Stansted is only half full and has a lot of room to expand whereas Gatwick is 85% full. Demand has shown it is a lot more popular with airlines and passengers at the moment."
He said that the second extra runway he believed necessary by 2050 would probably not be at Heathrow: "The balance between hub and no hub has shifted to point to point so I would be surprised if it was Heathrow but certainly haven't ruled it out."
Although the coalition scrapped plans for a Heathrow third runway in 2010, pressure from business groups and the aviation industry convinced Downing Street to reexamine the issue, and the commission was formed in November 2012.
But west London Tory MPs in particular have been infuriated by developments, with one, Zac Goldsmith, saying to back Heathrow expansion would be an "off-the-scale betrayal". Ministers insist David Cameron's pledge not to build additional runways was for this parliament only and any decision will be made after 2015.But west London Tory MPs in particular have been infuriated by developments, with one, Zac Goldsmith, saying to back Heathrow expansion would be an "off-the-scale betrayal". Ministers insist David Cameron's pledge not to build additional runways was for this parliament only and any decision will be made after 2015.
Colin Matthews, the Heathrow chief executive, issued a cautious welcome but said it was only an interim shortlist. He added that any recommendation would "need broad support and political leadership once the commission has finished its report to make something happen".
Davies has reduced the extent of possible blight by naming specific options at each airport. The north-west option at Heathrow – one of three possible locations the airport had put forward – would mean the village of Harmondsworth is demolished, and has been described as the worst possible option for residents of Sipson, which would be spared but now overflown at the tip of the runway.
The second Heathrow proposal, from the Heathrow Hub firm, which hopes to develop land to the north into an integrated transport hub, would extend the existing northern runway to at least 6km (almost 4 miles), potentially enabling the extended runway to operate as two independent runways - a surprise inclusion on the shortlist.
The commission has also put forward some short-term options to improve the operational efficiency of UK airports and airspace, including revised air traffic practices and better road and rail access to existing airports.
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