BAA unveils pounds 200m Stansted plan
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AIRPORTS operator BAA will today unveil plans for a pounds 200m expansion at Stansted to deal with growing demand. It would create hundreds of jobs but could generate fierce opposition, writes Philip Thornton.
The plans, which would need local authority planning permission, would allow the airport to nearly double the number of passengers it could receive to 15 million a year from its current capacity of 8 million. Figures released last week showed that year-on-year passenger growth is running at almost 30 per cent. BAA said: "Stansted was always intended to form part of a London network with Heathrow and Gatwick, and although we had a slow start we are now growing at a rate that will fulfil the potential."
BAA wants to press ahead with the second phase of development at Stansted because of the "phenomenal" growth in demand and because of the length of time taken by the public inquiry into plans for a fifth terminal at Heathrow.
The inquiry, already the longest-running in British legal history, is expected to drag on for several more years. BAA expects demand for air travel in the South-east to double over the next 15 to 20 years.
The company said it accepted there would be local opposition, on the grounds of the disruption the building might cause and because of fears of extra noise due to the increase in air movements. But it said the plan already had outline planning permission.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
0Comments