UK finally unveils Heathrow plans

A third runway and a sixth terminal are to be built at London Heathrow Airport under plans finally unveiled by the UK government

The developments, now the subject of consultation, will be required to meet strict noise and pollution controls.

The expansion has been strongly welcomed by heavy guns from UK industry and aviation.

But they are equally as strongly opposed by environmental and local residents' groups.

Under the plans, a new 2,200m runway would be built to the north of the existing two runways.

Together with the sixth terminal which will require the demolition of an entire village, Heathrow will be able to handle 120m passengers and 700,000 air traffic movements annually by 2030.

Currently it handles 67m passengers and 473,000 take offs and landings a year.

The plans also contain options to increase the use of the existing two runways through "mixed mode."

The whole development was backed by UK transport secretary Ruth Kelly who said that without the expansion "Heathrow's status as a world class airport would be gradually eroded."

Future Heathrow, a new group campaigning for the development and supported by industry and trades unions, said the expansion would benefit the UK economy by £10bn a year.

Richard Lambert, director general of the Confederation of British Industry, said: "Good air links are vital to UK businesses operating in a global economy and Heathrow, as our national hub, has been constrained for too long."

Willie Walsh, ceo of BA, said there was a "very strong case to be made for expansion on economic grounds."

He added: "We are totally committed to meeting the environmental challenges. By the time a third runway becomes operational, aviation emissions will have been capped by the EU for several years."   

The environmental group Greenpeace said: "Global warming is the greatest threat we face and requires a response that radically changes the way we think about airports."

It accused the government of "cultivating a binge-flying culture in this country instead of tackling the problem head on."

Friends of the Earth's aviation campaigner Richard Dyer, said: "Aviation is already the fastest growing source of UK carbon dioxide emissions.

"Building a third runway at Heathrow will inevitably lead to even more flights and more pollution.

"Unless we curb the growth in flights, our targets for combating global warming are unlikely to be met."