AnOther year Of debate after heathrOw is chOsen
The issue of airport capacity is a long one that has been taxi-ing around several governments for years.
In 2012 the Davies Commission was set up to carry out an independent assessment of the best way to meet growing passenger demand.
The former Labour government had, in 2010, signalled its support for a third runway at Heathrow.
This was scrapped by the coalition government in 2012, which wanted additional ways of adding extra flights.
One of the commission’s earliest recommendations was rejecting a new hub Thames estuary airport, dubbed Boris Island as it was championed by then Mayor of London Boris Johnson. Howard Davies ruled it out as not plausible, too expensive and would take too long to build.
That was a decision greeted with relief by many in Kent and Medway.
The Commission then moved on to consider the options for Gatwick and Heathrow.
Eventually last year, the commission gave the nod to Heathrow, concluding that it was the best option and would bring £211bn in economic benefits and up to 180,000 jobs.
There will now be another year of debate among MPs before any progression.