White Paper gives go-ahead for new Stansted runway

Air Travel: Anger from environmentalists as ministers put a decision on another Heathrow runway on hold until after the general election

Ministers have postponed a final decision on the expansion of Heathrow airport until after the next general election, but gave the go-ahead yesterday for another runway to be built at Stansted in 2011-12.

A long-awaited White Paper on the future of air travel argues for a third runway at the west London airport to be built in the period 2015-20, but only if "stringent" environmental conditions can be met.

The document, which sets out policy for the next 30 years, calls for urgent consultations on whether such issues can be successfully addressed, but it is expected that the process will not be completed until after the general election, which could take place in 15 months.

There are a number of sensitive constituencies near the west London airport and it is understood that No 10 is anxious not to upset voters. The White Paper says there is a "strong case" for another runway at Gatwick - which could be built after a legal ban expires in 2019 - if development of Heathrow is ruled out.

In response to the campaign by airlines for the immediate construction of a new runway at Heathrow, ministers have promised a review of restrictions on the use of the airport, which could result in the capacity to handle more flights.

The airport operator BAA has said a sixth terminal at the west London complex would be needed if the third shorter runway is built. The Government said BAA should carry out further work on proposals for terminal capacity.

The policy paper supported a new runway at Birmingham airport, possibly to be built around 2016, and another at Edinburgh, perhaps by 2020. As widely expected, the proposal to build a £9bn airport at Cliffe on the Thames estuary in northern Kent was rejected.

Residents near the airports set for development declared their opposition to the plans, and Friends of the Earth accused the Government of abdicating its responsibilities by giving the green light to a "massive" expansion in air travel. The Conservatives questioned how the airport operator BAA would pay for the proposed development at Stansted.

BAA, which runs the Essex airport, welcomed development there, but has made it clear that the second runway would be largely funded by extra charges on budget airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet, which would mean higher fares. The Civil Aviation Authority has ruled out any attempt to "cross-subsidise" development at Stansted through increased charges at other BAA airports.

Introducing the document in the Commons, Alistair Darling, the Secretary of State for Transport, said the policy was aimed at coping with a three-fold expansion in the number of passengers to as many as 600 million by 2030. He said air travel was essential to the economy, pointing out that the aviation industry employs 200,000 people, and indirectly supports a further 600,000 jobs. "We need to plan ahead so we can continue to benefit from the economic and social advantages of air travel, but at the same time deal with the impacts of increasing air transport for the environment," he said.

Mike Clasper, the chief executive of BAA, said the Government had taken "a long-sighted, strategic view". He said the company would examine the environmental impacts of a second runway at Stansted and address the community's concerns "as sympathetically as possible".

Campaigners against the project pledged a "vigorous and relentless" challenge to a second runway at the Essex airport. The Stop Stansted Expansion group said it would take its campaign to Europe if necessary to oppose the "illogical and undeliverable" proposals.

John Stewart, chairman of Hacan ClearSkies, which represents residents near Heathrow, said: "The Government has left us with blight, more noise and more pollution. We are half way there, but we will fight and we will campaign to ensure that Heathrow is off the agenda for ever and a day."

MAIN POINTS

South-east: New runway at Stansted to be built by 2011 or 2012. New runway at Heathrow if environmental concerns can be met; new runway at Gatwick if not.

South-east: Runway extension and new terminal at Bristol. Extra terminal capacity at Bournemouth provisionally supported.

Midlands: Birmingham to get new runway subject to environmental factors.

North: Additional terminal capacity at Manchester and Liverpool. Extended runway at Newcastle.

Northern Ireland: Development at Belfast supported.

Wales: Cardiff to remain main airport.

Scotland: Extra runway at Edinburgh.