3rd runway plan for Heathrow and 2nd runway plan for Stansted scrapped by BAA
and Gatwick are ruled out by coalition government
of the last Labour government’s
only result in the demolition of hundreds of homes but wreck the peace of thousands
more with extra aircraft noise and pollution, said they were overjoyed at the
news.
we’ve finally won. My first thought is that we need to plan a party,” said Geraldine Nicholson from the No Third Runway Action Group, based in villages to the north of Heathrow’s perimeter.
which operates both airports, has pressed ahead with plans for both sites, buying
up a number of properties in preparation.
and with Labour looking set to leave office, BAA said late last year it was shelving
its programme at Heathrow until after the election.
at Stansted, as well as at London’s third main airport, Gatwick.
application for the third Heathrow runway.
Stansted runway. Schemes to buy houses in both affected areas would also end,
it added, although some purchases already underway would continue.
of government policy in a matter as significant and controversial as runway capacity.
for us to purchase properties. Equally important is our intention to stand behind
our commitment made to provide time for those local residents who wish to sell
their properties to us, to do so.”
strengthen the UK’s trading links with the global markets on which our economy
and our competitiveness depend.”
homes in the village of Sipson, along with its school, church, pubs and restaurants
to make way for the runway.
its potential fate: “The uncertainty has been the hardest part. For the whole
area it’s been like living under a black cloud. Now that black cloud has finally
been lifted. It’s fantastic.”
been eight long years. We are nonetheless mindful that things can change and we
will be looking for a longer term commitment on this.
runway. If they are able to roll over so easily now, why couldn’t they have done
it before?”
Heathrow Airport today announces that it will stop work on the planning application
for a 3rd runway.” BAA also plans to stop buying properties in Sipson, after a
period of notice lasting till June. Colin Matthews, BAA’s CEO, said: “We recognise
the importance of government policy in a matter as significant and controversial
as runway capacity….The policy intentions of the new government are clear…”
application to build a 2nd runway at the airport. The move follows a clear indication
that Government airports policy will change, following the recent General Election.
Stansted will also withdraw, with immediate effect, the provision for assisted
relocation within the home owner support scheme introduced at Stansted in 2004.”
They add that BAA believes “new airport capacity is needed in the South East of
England, to strengthen the UK’s international trading links.”
following BAA’s humiliating climbdown over its plans for a 2nd Stansted runway.
BAA formally withdrew its planning application for a second Stansted runway which
if approved would have made the airport bigger than Heathrow. The planning application
had taken BAA more than 4 years to prepare and cost the airport operator some
£200 million – and badly damaged local communities.