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Heathrow submits third runway options to Davies Commission Heathrow submits third runway options to Davies Commission
(about 1 hour later)
Heathrow Airport has unveiled three options for a new runway, saying each one would be "quicker and cheaper" than plans for a rival hub airport.Heathrow Airport has unveiled three options for a new runway, saying each one would be "quicker and cheaper" than plans for a rival hub airport.
The airport's submission to the Davies Commission, which is looking at raising airport capacity, outlined a runway to the north, north-west or south-west of the existing airport.The airport's submission to the Davies Commission, which is looking at raising airport capacity, outlined a runway to the north, north-west or south-west of the existing airport.
It said a new runway could be in place by 2029, allowing 260,000 more flights.It said a new runway could be in place by 2029, allowing 260,000 more flights.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said such an expansion would be "disastrous". Residents living near the airport said the plans were "frightening".
'Global hub status''Global hub status'
According to Heathrow's submission, building a new runway would deliver extra capacity at the airport by 2025-29 and would allow it to operate 740,000 flights a year - up from the current limit of 480,000.According to Heathrow's submission, building a new runway would deliver extra capacity at the airport by 2025-29 and would allow it to operate 740,000 flights a year - up from the current limit of 480,000.
The plans would "maintain the UK's global hub status for the foreseeable future" and "protect the thriving businesses and plentiful jobs that surround Heathrow", it said.The plans would "maintain the UK's global hub status for the foreseeable future" and "protect the thriving businesses and plentiful jobs that surround Heathrow", it said.
Heathrow's preferred option would be to place a new runway to the north-west or the south-west of the airport.Heathrow's preferred option would be to place a new runway to the north-west or the south-west of the airport.
This would "deliver a full-length third runway while minimising the impact on the local community".This would "deliver a full-length third runway while minimising the impact on the local community".
The submission also detailed how a new westerly runway would help reduce noise pollution because planes would not have to fly so low over London.The submission also detailed how a new westerly runway would help reduce noise pollution because planes would not have to fly so low over London.
It predicted that, even with a third runway, there would be 10-20% fewer people affected by noise under its new plans.It predicted that, even with a third runway, there would be 10-20% fewer people affected by noise under its new plans.
The option of building north of the airport would be the quickest and cheapest, the airport acknowledged - but it would also be the noisiest and have the biggest impact on residential property.The option of building north of the airport would be the quickest and cheapest, the airport acknowledged - but it would also be the noisiest and have the biggest impact on residential property.
Each of the options would mean the compulsory purchase of some properties and some property demolitions, as well as potentially major work on the M25.Each of the options would mean the compulsory purchase of some properties and some property demolitions, as well as potentially major work on the M25.
The submission also outlined the need for a sixth terminal at Heathrow as part of the plans - which would enable the airport to handle 130m passengers a year, rather than the current figure of 70m.The submission also outlined the need for a sixth terminal at Heathrow as part of the plans - which would enable the airport to handle 130m passengers a year, rather than the current figure of 70m.
'Flying pigs''Flying pigs'
Stanwell Moor is a village near Heathrow and one of its councillors said it would "get completely destroyed" under one of the options.
"I wasn't totally surprised because we knew these would be in the pipeline but it's a pretty desperate situation and pretty frightening," said Robert Evans.
"The real problem now is the area is blighted and there will be a period of uncertainty, people will be anxious because they bought their homes and now they find the home isn't the asset they thought."
Residents' group Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (Hacan) said it would fight any proposal for a new runway "tooth and nail".
Hacan chairman John Stewart said it was difficult to square Heathrow's claim that expansion could take place while cutting noise for residents.
Heathrow chief executive Colin Matthews said: "After half a century of vigorous debate but little action, it is clear the UK desperately needs a single hub airport with the capacity to provide the links to emerging economies which can boost UK jobs, GDP and trade.Heathrow chief executive Colin Matthews said: "After half a century of vigorous debate but little action, it is clear the UK desperately needs a single hub airport with the capacity to provide the links to emerging economies which can boost UK jobs, GDP and trade.
"It is clear that the best solution for taxpayers, passengers and business is to build on the strength we already have at Heathrow.""It is clear that the best solution for taxpayers, passengers and business is to build on the strength we already have at Heathrow."
He continued: "Today we are showing how that vision can be achieved while keeping the impact on local residents to an absolute minimum."He continued: "Today we are showing how that vision can be achieved while keeping the impact on local residents to an absolute minimum."
Mr Matthews said he had not ruled out a fourth runway at Heathrow, but said this would not be needed until at least 2040. All of the options put forward for three runways has been designed to evolve to four runways.Mr Matthews said he had not ruled out a fourth runway at Heathrow, but said this would not be needed until at least 2040. All of the options put forward for three runways has been designed to evolve to four runways.
However, Mr Johnson said the proposals for a new runway at Heathrow "were politically, environmentally and socially unacceptable".However, Mr Johnson said the proposals for a new runway at Heathrow "were politically, environmentally and socially unacceptable".
"There will be more pigs flying than aircraft if we are to believe the claim that three runways at Heathrow will make less noise than two," he said."There will be more pigs flying than aircraft if we are to believe the claim that three runways at Heathrow will make less noise than two," he said.
Mr Johnson added the move "would be a disastrous outcome for Londoners, nor would it solve our aviation capacity crisis as a fourth runway would need to be in the planning process before a third was even open".Mr Johnson added the move "would be a disastrous outcome for Londoners, nor would it solve our aviation capacity crisis as a fourth runway would need to be in the planning process before a third was even open".
On Monday, the mayor published proposals for three possible replacement hubs - an artificial island in the Thames Estuary dubbed "Boris Island", a major expansion at Stansted, or an airport at the Isle of Grain in north Kent.On Monday, the mayor published proposals for three possible replacement hubs - an artificial island in the Thames Estuary dubbed "Boris Island", a major expansion at Stansted, or an airport at the Isle of Grain in north Kent.
'Reheated and rehashed' 'Capacity conundrum'
All airports must submit their plans to the commission by 19 July. Greenpeace accused the airport of presenting a "reheated and rehashed" plan with the same "flawed arguments that failed so categorically last time around".
Heathrow residents' group Hacan said they would fight any proposal for a new runway "tooth and nail" and Greenpeace accused the airport of presenting a "reheated and rehashed" plan with the same "flawed arguments that failed so categorically last time around".
Nic Ferriday from Airport Watch, an umbrella group for organisations opposed to airport expansion, said a hub airport was not as vital to Britain's economy as some people made out.Nic Ferriday from Airport Watch, an umbrella group for organisations opposed to airport expansion, said a hub airport was not as vital to Britain's economy as some people made out.
"At hub airports, you're talking about large numbers of people flying into the airport and then flying out of the airport - good for duty free, good for business people who aren't based in London or the South East, or even in the UK," he said."At hub airports, you're talking about large numbers of people flying into the airport and then flying out of the airport - good for duty free, good for business people who aren't based in London or the South East, or even in the UK," he said.
John McDonnell, the Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, the constituency where Heathrow is located, said the submission "was just a stale rehash of out-of-date plans that have been knocking around for years and have largely been rejected by all the political parties".
But business groups backed the plans, including the trade body which represents Britain's airlines.But business groups backed the plans, including the trade body which represents Britain's airlines.
The Board of Airline Representatives said no other proposal so far on airport capacity could "deliver the UK's hub airport capacity quicker, at the right cost, or in the right place for airlines and their passengers".The Board of Airline Representatives said no other proposal so far on airport capacity could "deliver the UK's hub airport capacity quicker, at the right cost, or in the right place for airlines and their passengers".
The Institute of Directors said expanding Heathrow was "the best way to solve Britain's airport capacity conundrum".The Institute of Directors said expanding Heathrow was "the best way to solve Britain's airport capacity conundrum".
The Davies Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, was set up last year to examine "the need for additional UK airport capacity and recommend to government how this can be met in the short, medium and long term".The Davies Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, was set up last year to examine "the need for additional UK airport capacity and recommend to government how this can be met in the short, medium and long term".
It is expected to recommend options by the end of this year, but will not submit its final report until summer 2015 - after the next general election.It is expected to recommend options by the end of this year, but will not submit its final report until summer 2015 - after the next general election.