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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Airport expansion gets go-ahead | Airport expansion gets go-ahead |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Controversial plans for an expansion of Stansted Airport in Essex have been given the go-ahead by the government. | |
| Airport owner BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year. | Airport owner BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year. |
| Objectors said an expansion would damage the environment but some unions said the proposal could bring new jobs. | Objectors said an expansion would damage the environment but some unions said the proposal could bring new jobs. |
| Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon made the announcement in a written statement to Parliament on Thursday. | Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon made the announcement in a written statement to Parliament on Thursday. |
| Environmental concerns | |
| Stansted's managing director, Stewart Wingate, said the decision was "great news" for passengers. | |
| He said: "We are naturally delighted that the Secretaries of State have granted permission for the next phase of growth at Stansted." | |
| Planning permission for the expansion was originally refused on grounds of noise and environmental concerns by Uttlesford District Council in November 2006. | |
| A public inquiry was held into the proposals during which BAA said there would be measures to control, manage and minimise predicted impacts on the local environment. | |
| Members of the Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) campaign group have held a long-running campaign against the plans. |