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Loophole will let ministers approve Heathrow runway without inquiry
Nicholas Cecil, Deputy Political Editor9 Dec 2009
Ministers are set to rush through planning permission for a third runway at Heathrow without a full public inquiry, the Standard can reveal.
Official documents show the Government is prepared to make the decision itself instead of waiting for a new planning system to be introduced.
Under government reforms all decisions will be made by a new independent Infrastructure Planning Commission, due to start work next March.
But the commissioners cannot take a decision on Heathrow until ministers have drawn up a new national strategy on airports. It means the Transport Secretary will retain the power to make the final decision on Heathrow — and will not have to hold a public inquiry.
Official transport department documents, released under Freedom of Information laws, state: “If the “strategy” has not been designated, the [commission] will have an advisory role only, with the decision ultimately taken by ministers.”
MPs accused Labour of using a loophole to push through the expansion. The Government has indicated it will back the third runway, which would raise the number of flights at the airport from 480,000 a year to more than 700,000.
Shadow London minister Justine Greening said: “This is totally unacceptable. It just shows that Labour are determined to ram through a third runway and don't care about public opinion.”
John Stewart, chairman of anti-Heathrow expansion group HACAN, said: “It's a foregone conclusion that this Government will give permission for a third runway if the decision is left with them. This makes a mockery of the democratic system.” Public hearings held by the commission would not allow the level of cross-examination of BAA and the Government as under a public inquiry, he added.
Terminal Five at Heathrow was only given approval after an eight-year process. The inquiry cost £80 million and sat for 524 days. Under the new planning system the examination of any proposal, including public hearings, would last for only six months.
The Department for Communities and Local Government said: “The new system will be faster and fairer with fuller public scrutiny. People will be able to make their case at every stage and speak at open-floor hearings.”
Reader views (10)
Aircraft noise is driving me up the wall. I never used to be effected by aircraft noise, but I get a double whammy of jets from London City Airport (more flights and bigger noisier jets) and Heathrow jets. They seem to be flying all over East London and Docklands. There is a constant drone of noise.
How many airport does London need? We have Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead, London City Airport, Biggin Hill, Northolt, Luton etc...
If people are interested in a scandal, they should look at how Newham Coucil pushed through expansion of London City Airport. No consultation. Not a single one of Newham's Councillors does anything to stop expansion. Is this democracy?
- Anonymous, Dcoklands, London, 09/12/2009 22:43
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With the emergence of the quango known as the Infrastructure Planning Commission, England can expect to see a fair amount of applications for major projects such as nuclear power stations, wind farms, expanded airports / sea ports, prisons...in fact anything deemed to be in the "National Interest"...without the usual lengthy public inquiries.
Heathrow Airport itself was built under similar conditions. The land was requisitioned during World War 2 for what was supposed to be a military airfield, but was always intended to be London's main civil airport...Wartime conditions just allowed the authorities to by-pass a public inquiry.
- Mark H, London England, 09/12/2009 13:28
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Another example of why we need rid of this contemptable Dictatorship.
- Dave (Not Cameron), London, 1984, 09/12/2009 13:18
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This "loophole" as you report it, is the exact reason why the government passed the legislation. It wants to be able to push through any project without consulting those affected and regardless of the impact. I predicted this when the Infrastructure Planning Commission was announced and it has come true. If MPs of all colour had been attending to the business for which they are paid, rather than buying duck houses, bath plugs and free porn, we would not be where we are now.
And for their next trick: nuclear power stations all over the UK. Just wait and see...
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 09/12/2009 12:19
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Simple answer, if your MP is a minister, get out there and campaign against them!
- Meg Hiller Is My Mp :(, Hackney, London, 09/12/2009 12:04
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Third runway was agreed to years ago.Politicians will pretend they have not decided yet,but everybody knows this will go ahead as the billions in taxes will allow officials to claim more expenses and pay for increases.The British public will once again be ripped off having to pay high taxes for air travel whilst being told this is to ofset emmisions.And while I am on airtravel,would Virgin,British airways,BMI,like to explain why I have to pay the same amount to fly to South Africa (11 hour flight) as to Australia (23 hour flight),the rip -off just continues here in the UK.
- Dave, london, 09/12/2009 10:32
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While Copenhagen is in full swing, interest centering round the "Dodgy Document" (unless you work for the BEEB)the Labour Government's committment to environmentalism is now fully revealed. Not a policy, just a populist vote-winner to be discarded whenever it's inconvenient.
- Grumpy Old Man, Ashford,, 09/12/2009 10:18
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This is not a loophole this law was passed by the 646 MPs who were to busy feathering their own nests to worry about taking away the right for an inquiry where objections can be heard.The same "loophole" will be used to build all these new Nuclear power station.
Under Labour the public has no say in anything.
- Howard Expat, Malaysia, 09/12/2009 10:06
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Predictable tactics from this slimy Govt. Just like in the build up to the Iraq war they force through undemocratic decisions, aided by a now supine Houses of Parliament. Just like the Iraq war fiasco, marches will be needed. There is one hope-much as I dislike the EU, in the Heathrow case maybe they may be able to exert pressure for a proper environmental audit which would stop further runways anywhere in the South East in their tracks. The situation at the moment is that figures are massaged and incompetent reports are produced saying aviation carbon emissions will be at 2005 levels in 2050. All lies.
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK, 09/12/2009 09:53
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Then Cameron should announce now that he will repeal the Planning Permission if he is elected.
- Boudicca, Guildford, England, 09/12/2009 09:47
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