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Brakes put on airport growth - STN / LHR

Decisions about both Heathrow and Stansted are being delayed

See latest update in the business section of today’s Sunday Times
Brakes put on airport growth

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From The Sunday TimesJuly 20, 2008

Brakes put on airport growth

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/a
rticle4364032.ece

Plans are in disarray as government unexpectedly delays greenlighting
decision on expansion at Stansted Dominic O'Connell

PLANS to expand airports in southeast England are in disarray after
ministers unexpectedly put off a decision to allow an increase in
passengers at Stansted in Essex.

A fortnight ago ministers were set to give the green light for
Stansted to grow from 25m to 35m passengers a year. No statement was
made, however, perplexing BAA, Stansted’s owner, as well as the groups
that oppose the plan.

Last week the mystery was solved when officials wrote to those
involved in the planning inquiry into the scheme, saying the relevant
secretaries of state “consider they are not yet in a position to
determine the appeal”. They also said ministers were “presently” of
the view that the inquiry should not be reopened.

The officials said the government wanted to look into conditions
adopted in the public inquiry on noise around the airport, saying that
what had been put forward by BAA and the local council might be in
conflict with existing noise objectives for the airport.

Carol Barbone, director of the campaign group Stop Stansted Expansion,
said that the reason given for the delay was “totally unbelievable”.
“It relates to a matter that could have been dealt with six months
ago,” she said.

“One could simply put this down to dithering and inefficiency but we
suspect that the government is deliberately trying to buy more time.”

Earlier in the year the government delayed a decision on an extra
runway at Heathrow.

The latest delay is a setback for BAA and government plans to expand
Stansted. The Essex airport was chosen in a 2003 aviation white paper
as the first to have a new runway to relieve congestion in southeast
England. A new runway at Heathrow was to follow later if concerns over
air quality could be overcome.

As an interim step, BAA sought planning permission to increase the
number of flights and passengers at Stansted on the existing runway. A
public inquiry into the scheme was held, running from May to October
last year.

BAA has submitted a separate planning application for a second runway.
It was thought this would be sent to a public inquiry a fortnight
ago.

BAA sources said they still had some hope that a decision would be
taken next week, but others involved believe it is unlikely to go to
an inquiry before the interim expansion plan is determined.

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