The government has delayed a final decision on a third runway at Heathrow until January 2009.

A decision had been expected before Christmas but it has now been put back a month.

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said: "I know that there are strong views across a range of interests.

"I will ensure that I give proper consideration to the evidence before me and will therefore take more time before making an announcement to the House, in January 2009."

Heathrow Runway

The Heathrow runway expansion proposals have attracted significant attention this year.

There is a fierce debate between Heathrow operator BAA and the airlines, which support the plans to build a third runway and sixth terminal by 2020, and environmental groups and local residents who are opposed.

The Conservatives and Lib Dems also oppose the plans.

Last month over 150 MPs signed a Commons motion urging the government to delay the decision to ensure all views were taken into account.

The Conservatives' transport secretary Theresa Villiers accused the government of "dithering" on the subject.

The Lib Dem's Norman Baker commented: "Let's hope this is a belated sign that the government is finally paying attention to the massed ranks of the public and the Commons benches and considering abandoning the third runway at Heathrow."

Heathrow Expansion

In a statement, airport operator BAA said: "We understand that the government has to give careful consideration to the third runway but we believe that the only logical outcome will be for its construction."

"However, having waited six years to reach this point, we can afford to wait a little bit longer."

Environmental lobbyists also welcomed the move.

John Sauven from Greenpeace, whose campaigners scaled the House of Commons in protest at the plans earlier this year, said the move showed the "pro-runway faction" was losing the argument.

Meanwhile, media reports suggest the government itself is split on the issue.

The Financial Times reports that several senior ministers are privately critical of the Heathrow expansion plan.

Sauven said: "There’s been whispered talk of a cabinet split for weeks, but now it’s bursting into the open as more ministers realise that the business case for expansion is deeply flawed while the environmental case for blocking a new runway is overwhelming."

Source - Airport International's London Reporter

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