BAA abandons third runway bid
Airports operator BAA has abandoned its attempt to secure expansion through the construction of new runways at Heathrow and Stansted.
It withdrew its planning application after it became clear the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government was determined to block further expansion.
Last Thursday’s full coalition document made clear the government would “cancel” the third runway at Heathrow and “refuse permission for additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted”.
A high court defeat before the general election requiring the re-opening of the public consultation had effectively blocked the expansion for several years but there remained a theoretical possibility it could go ahead.
Now BAA have acknowledged defeat. In a statement issued today it announced it would stop buying properties in Sipson, the village which it hoped to bulldoze to create the runway.
“We recognise the importance of government policy in a matter as significant and controversial as runway capacity,” chief executive Colin Matthews said.
“The policy intentions of the new government are clear and it is no longer appropriate for us to purchase properties.”
Greenpeace, among the environmental groups which celebrated last week when the coalition deal was published, said: “Right from the start, we argued that building a third runway at a time when we are battling to reduce our carbon emissions made no sense.”
But Mr Matthews and BAA continue to resent the government’s position.
“Heathrow plays an important role for the UK and supports thousands of jobs,” he added.
“We continue to believe that new capacity would strengthen the UK’s trading links with the global markets on which our economy and our competitiveness depend.”
