Government's Airports Commission backs third runway at Heathrow, hands decision to ministers

Britain needs an extra runway to maintain its status as an aviation hub - Sir Davies

Britain needs an extra runway to maintain its status as an aviation hub - Sir Davies

The Davies Commission this morning after two-and-a-half-years recommends that a third runway at Heathrow is the best option for airport expansion. 

The final report of the commission set up by the coalition Government to resolve the vexed political issue of how the UK could maintain its status as an aviation hub says that a new full-length, north-west runway at Heathrow offers the "strongest case" with the "greatest strategic and economic benefits".

But it gives ministers a potential get-out clause, should they find unpalatable an option opposed by some cabinet ministers and the likely Conservative candidate for Mayor, with Boris Johnson pledging to "lie down in front of the bulldozers". It says that all three alternatives, including a new runway at Gatwick, and a shorter runway at Heathrow, offer "credible" options for expansion. Anti-Heathrow expansion HACAN said Gatwick could emerge as the final choice.

The Commission notes the fate of the Roskill Commission's options for expansion in the 1970s, spiked for political reasons, and said it has "sought to learn from that history and to identify recommendations which are balanced, evidence-based and deliverable". It stresses that its recommendation is a "fundamentally different proposition from previous proposals to expand at Heathrow" by delivering a full-length runway, and, situated further west than the current runways, offering a reduction in the number of people affected by noise compared to other potential third runways. 

Its report says that a greater proportion of people travelling to Heathrow than today would travel by public transport - 53% compared to 41% - with planned rail schemes in place. Over 60% modal share for public transport could be achieved by implementing a demand management scheme to charge vehicles.

The commission says there should be a legal commitment that new capacity will only be released when it is clear that compliance with EU air pollution limits will not be delayed, and a firm commitment not to build a fourth runway.