Britain’s airport capacity has become a highly contentious issue of late, with all parties in agreement that additional runways are essential in maintaining and expanding the country’s current rate of business growth.
However, the way in which these increased targets can be met has provoked controversy, with some believing that expansion at Heathrow is the solution whilst others believe the best option is to create an entirely new hub airport in London or the South East.
This week, the government’s Airports Commission has released its shortlist for the most viable and cost-effective solutions to the problem. Additional runways at Heathrow and Gatwick have both made the cut and will be further investigated, as will a potential new airport on the Isle of Grain in north Kent.
Unfortunately, the Airports Commission ruled out the possibility of a new hub airport being constructed in the Thames Estuary, believing proposals backed by the London Mayor Boris Johnson have “too many uncertainties and challenges surrounding them at the moment”. Also failing to make the shortlist were runway expansions at Stansted and Birmingham, although the commission conceded that these would be good options when considering airport expansion in the longer term, speculating that both could have second runways built by 2050.
Sir Howard Davies, who leads the Airports Commission, stated that the body will now conduct further research in order to determine which of the avenues shortlisted would be most beneficial to the UK in both the short and long term. Primary concerns include transportation options, environmental impact and the views of local residents surrounding the proposed expansion sites.
This last point could certainly cause problems for those backing expansion at Heathrow. Currently, two options have been included in the shortlist – the creation of an entirely new runway to the north-west of its current site, which would involve the demolition of 950 homes, and an extension of the airport’s existing runway which would allow the runway to accommodate for two independent take-off and landing strips.
In response to the announcement made by the Airports Commission, anti-Heathrow expansion campaigners have pledged to commit to 18 months of “intense” protests. Campaign group HACAN, for example, is determined to force the Airports Commission to consider the negative effects such plans could have upon the lives of local residents.
Chairman John Stewart insists; “A new runway will increase planes from 480,000 a year to 560,000.
“There is no way overall noise levels will decrease.”
A final recommendation backed by the Airports Commission will be released in 2015 after all of the shortlisted options have been further examined and solid plans put into place. Hopefully, the results of the final report will allow Britain to achieve higher airport capacity vital to the small and large businesses seeking international expansion.
Do you think the demolition of almost 1,000 homes is a fair price to pay to ensure Britain’s continuation as a strong presence within the business world, or should an alternative solution be found?
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