Commission Backs New Heathrow Runway - Sources

Heathrow has been named as the preferred site for London's new runway.

The proposal is expected to be backed - but only if it meets stringent conditions on air quality, noise pollution and carbon emissions.

The three year study into expansion plans by the Airports Commission has recommended a new runway built to the northwest of Heathrow would ensure the UK's "long term prosperity".

Three options were considered - a third runway at Heathrow, extending an existing one, or building a second runway at Gatwick. Both airports are operating near capacity.

The Commission has concluded a new runway at Heathrow would offer the greatest strategic and economic benefits while resulting in the loss of fewer homes.

It suggests expansion at Heathrow could create 70,000 new jobs and result in airlines flying to 40 new flight destinations by 2050.

The report leaves open the possibility of expansion at Gatwick but concludes the economic benefits would be considerably smaller. The building of a new airport in the Thames estuary was considered to be "unfeasibly expensive".

A government statement this morning will acknowledge the report and ministers will take some time studying the recommendations before making a final decision which is likely to be delayed until after the Mayoral election next May.

Sir Howard Davies, the Commission chairman, said: "Heathrow is best-placed to provide the type of capacity which is most urgently required: long-haul destinations to new markets.

"It provides the greatest benefits for business passengers, freight operators and the broader economy."

Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith, who is trying to win his party's nomination for the Mayoral election, is opposed to Heathrow expansion, while the airport's future has split Labour's leading candidates.

Opponents of expansion at Heathrow say hundreds of thousands more people would suffer from noise and increased traffic congestion.

They also claim it would worsen air pollution from aircraft and traffic on the M4 and M25 motorways.

Residents campaigning against a new runway at Gatwick say expansion there would also increase noise, pollution and traffic congestion, hitting the area's heritage and natural landscapes.

Green groups do not want a new runway at either airport.

"It's simply not credible for the Government to build a new runway in the South East (HKSE: 0726.HK - news) and still claim to be serious about tackling climate change," said Andrew Pendleton of Friends Of The Earth.

"We can't preach to the world about stopping catastrophic climate change on the one hand and send aviation emissions soaring on the other."

Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said: "The solution is not to build more tarmac strips but to manage demand."

The commission received more than 50,000 responses during a 12-week consultation on the three proposals which ended in February.