Political tension as new report tells Britain to build third runway at London's Heathrow
Commission recommends expanding Britain's busiest airport, a politically divisive option that will fuel tensions in Conservative party
Britain should build a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport, a government-appointed commission into the country's airport capacity said in a report set to create a political headache for Prime Minister David Cameron.
Lawmakers broadly agree southeast England needs a new runway to remain economically competitive but its location has been disputed for over 25 years. Proposals to expand Heathrow in densely populated west London are politically divisive and likely to fuel tensions in the ruling Conservative party.
After a three-year study, the Airports Commission, as expected, selected a new runway at Heathrow over two other shortlisted options, arguing that it offered Britain the best way to add "urgently required" long-haul routes to new markets.
"Heathrow ... provides the greatest benefits for business passengers, freight operators and the broader economy," the commission's chairman, Howard Davies, said.
It is now up to the government to decide whether to accept the Heathrow option that Cameron, when in opposition in 2009, said would not happen under his watch, "no ifs, no buts".
A previous expansion plan for Britain's busiest airport was scrapped in 2010. The new proposal was described by the Airports Commission as "fundamentally different", citing its more westerly location and accompanying conditions to ban night flights and introduce a noise levy, and a government pledge not to add more runways later.