Reacting to the news that BAA will not be submitting their application to expand Heathrow with a third runway, Stop Climate Chaos Coalition director Ashok Sinha said,

A new runway at Heathrow would have increased the UK’s carbon emissions. This welcome decision to shelve Heathrow’s expansion plans instead increases our chances of preventing catastrophic climate change. As the Climate Change Committee said today, we now urgently need a step change increase in our effort to deliver a low carbon economy – creating large numbers of new jobs and business opportunities along the way.

Story from member AirportWatch
The airport operator BAA has bowed to opposition to a third runway at Heathrow airport. It will not submit a planning application before the general election and will not sign large contracts to “bounce” a future Conservative government into accepting it.

Senior BAA figures have also told the Tories the company will cease to fight for the third runway if they form the next government.

Theresa Villiers, the shadow transport secretary, said: “Last week BAA conveyed to us at our party conference that it will not be submitting a planning application before the election.

“It seems BAA has woken up to the fact that we mean what we say on Heathrow and that if we win the general election there will be no third runway.”

Labour pushed through the runway plan despite the opposition of Hilary Benn, the environment secretary, and Ed Miliband, the energy and climate secretary. Residents and campaigners accused ministers of sacrificing their green credentials to the aviation lobby.

Geoff Hoon, then transport secretary, approved the £9 billion third runway and sixth terminal last January and ministers indicated the project would be rushed through, making it more difficult for the Tories to overturn the decision.

The announcement at last week’s Conservative conference that a Tory government would block expansion of London’s big airports has forced BAA to reappraise the scheme. Its new stance means the taxpayer will not be forced to pay a large sum in compensation for any wasted work.

Read full story on AirportWatch's site