Heathrow: Third runway and sixth terminal by 2020

Hundreds of people will see their homes bulldozed and thousands more will face worsening noise pollution under the plans for a new runway and sixth terminal.

A long-awaited consultation document reveals the Government's plans for the airport are far more extensive than originally set out.

Ministers are to rip up long-standing agreements which allow residents near Heathrow and those under flight paths a guaranteed respite from the noise.

The proposed third runway will also be longer than planned, potentially allowing for heavier, noisier aircraft.

In addition, a sixth terminal will be built, causing the demolition of 700 properties - including the whole village of Sipson - and 102 listed buildings.

Hundreds of thousands of people will also suffer greater noise pollution with Hounslow, Egham, Putney and Barnes among the areas brought into the belt where noise levels are 57 decibels or above. And at least 10 schools will also be dragged into the contour where noise levels are 63 decibels or higher.

But the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly infuriated MPs by refusing to face questions in Parliament about the proposals. Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers accused her of "running scared".

"This is not democracy," she said. "This is one of the most important decisions we face as a nation and it is scandalous that Ruth Kelly won't answer in Parliament to the MPs who represent people whose lives are directly impacted by the future Heathrow."

The consultation, which closes in February, claims there is a "strong case" for expanding the airport from 470,000 flights a year to more than 700,000. This would see as many as 120 million passengers using Heathrow by 2030.

Expansion is conditional on there being no rise in local air and noise pollution. But to the amazement of campaigners, the document also states expansion can take place without any overall increases. The document claims that, because of cleaner aircraft and the greater use of twin engine planes, that Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels will actually fall over the next two decades.

"Our modelling shows that even with a third runway, the combined effects of these technological improvements will see NO2 emissions in the Heathrow area fall by some 49 per cent between 2002 and 2030," it says. It also claims there will be no overall increase in the size of the area where noise levels will be 57 decibels or above, despite the massive increase in flights. It also claims road traffic pollution in the area will not increase.

Opponents of expansion claimed the document was a "fix" as the Government was rejecting its own recent ANASE report showing that noise levels would rise. Critics also pointed out that ministers had chosen 2002 as the benchmark - the final year when Concorde was in use and when the weather conditions were the most benign for measuring air pollution.

"This is a complete and utter fix," said Conservative MP Justine Greening.

The plans provoked a mixed reaction with environmental groups opposed, but unions and business leaders supportive. Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said: "New Labour is cultivating a binge-flying culture instead of tackling the problem headon."

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: "I am firmly opposed to this expansion of Heathrow Airport as it runs contrary to all the growing evidence we now have on the impact of aviation on climate change."

But Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI, 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."